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

Beyond insurance coverage, access to care is increasingly challenging in rural communities, which have historically voted Republican, with disproportionate hospital closures as just one example. — Brandon Yan, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026

The system then evaluates whether rerouting that transformer to Red Oak delivers higher business value without creating disproportionate risk to the Arizona program. — Jayashree Arunkumar, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Another misunderstanding at the heart of conversations on gun reform is the belief that assault rifles cause a disproportionate number of homicides, when more deaths are attributable to handguns. — Shelby Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

During production, an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas in the icefall, turning the film into a chronicle of the disaster and the disproportionate risks Himalayan climbers take while helping foreign mountaineers pursue their ambitions. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

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