inequality

noun

in·​equal·​i·​ty ˌi-ni-ˈkwä-lə-tē 

1

: the quality of being unequal or uneven: such as

a

: social disparity

economic/racial/gender inequality

b

: disparity of distribution or opportunity

inequality of income/employment/education

c

: lack of evenness

hampered by the inequality of the ground

d

: the condition of being variable : changeableness

2

: an instance of being unequal

3

: a formal statement of inequality between two quantities usually separated by a sign of inequality (such as <, >, or ≠ signifying respectively is less than, is greater than, or is not equal to)

Examples of inequality in a Sentence

They discussed the problem of inequality between students.

He accused the company of inequality in its hiring practices.

He has proposed a new system designed to remove inequalities in health care.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mandel’s work also informed a 2012 New York Times Magazine column on how the art market thrives on inequality, which argued that fine art belongs less to the broader global economy than to the peculiar economy of the very rich. — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Carlson admitted setting the fire out of personal frustration and resentment over economic inequality. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

This comes as the league prepares for a labor fight in which financial inequality is a central top of debate. — Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

At its core, the film explores the power dynamics and contradictions that arise from social inequality when people from different social classes live under the same roof. — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inequalite, from Latin inaequalitat-, inaequalitas, from inaequalis unequal, from in- + aequalis equal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inequality

• triangle inequality

Rhymes for inequality

• causality
• equality
• frivolity
• sodality
• jollity
• polity
• quality

Kids Definition

inequality

noun

in·​equal·​i·​ty ˌin-i-ˈkwäl-ət-ē 

plural inequalities

1

: the quality of being unequal

2

: an instance of being unequal (as an irregularity in a surface)

3

: a statement in mathematics or logic that two quantities usually separated by a special sign (as <, >, or ≠ respectively meaning "is less than," "is greater than," or "is not equal to") are not equal