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

Moreover, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently complained that New York holds disproportionate sway over the Fed as several presidents are from the city but serving in other areas. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

Regarding Erivo specifically, Miller said dark-skinned Black women routinely experience disproportionate backlash due to colorism, especially when occupying highly visible cultural roles. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

In the Bay Area, Santa Clara County saw 13,254 new diagnoses of hepatitis B from 2014 to 2023, with a disproportionate number in Asian American and Pacific Islander residents. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

According to Edwards, many executives are beginning to realize that even minor disturbances, often invisible or intermittent, can create disproportionate consequences. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 4 Dec. 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