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

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

These may be senior executives, top sales producers or operational leaders whose expertise creates disproportionate value. — Anthony Mastro, Forbes.com, 26 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

Collins argued that artificially inflated streams allow some artists to claim a disproportionate slice of the pie, thereby reducing the amount available to artists whose streams are legitimate. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 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