disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

: being out of proportion

a disproportionate share

disproportionately adverb

Examples of disproportionate in a Sentence

He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

A disproportionate number of the students are poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

The rapid and overwhelming use of force seems disproportionate to a nonviolent student protest. —Nara Milanich, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024

There is an explanation for the seemingly disproportionate price: While the house boasts just one bedroom and one bathroom, it's set on a very large 7,840-square-foot lot in a desirable cul-de-sac in Silicon Valley. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disprōportiōnātus, past participle of disprōportiōnāre "to make out of proportion," from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət 

-ˈpȯr-

: being out of proportion

disproportionately adverb