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

Those include the disproportionate suspension of students of color and gaps in academic performance. —Amelia Pak-Harvey, IndyStar, 31 Oct. 2025

Student service struggles Staying on a four-day schedule long-term would continue to have a disproportionate impact on families who rely on ISD schools for meals, social services and other resources, Young said. —Ilana Arougheti updated October 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025

Research shows that incarcerated trans women face disproportionate levels of harassment and violence. —Quispe López, Them., 30 Oct. 2025

While federal agents say threatening protest activity has led them to intensify their crowd control tactics, demonstrators argue their response is often disproportionate. —Devan Cole, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for disproportionate

• extortionate
• proportionate

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective

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

-ˈpȯr-

: being out of proportion

disproportionately adverb