disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The late pontiff made connections between climate change and its disproportionate impact on the developing world. Solcyré Burga, Time, 8 May 2025 Apple wrote the song after witnessing the impact—and the disproportionate impact on Black women—of a cash-bail system that jails mothers who can’t afford bail without trial, separating them from their dependents. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 May 2025 Whether through policy changes, expanded forgiveness programs, or better repayment options, addressing the disproportionate impact of student debt on Black women remains an essential component of any meaningful solution to America’s $1.6 trillion student loan problem. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 May 2025 Con Ed’s unjust taxes and profits are particularly hard on low- and middle-income households, for whom utilities account for a disproportionate share of monthly income. Mark Ellis, New York Daily News, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for disproportionate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of disproportionate was in 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Disproportionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disproportionate. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective
dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
-ˈpȯr-
: being out of proportion
disproportionately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on disproportionate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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