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

The bank expects the Duo to have a disproportionate impact on iPhone revenue because of its much higher average selling price, even as overall iPhone shipments are expected to remain roughly flat next year. — Mackenzie Sigalos,kif Leswing, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

In February, the High Court ruled it unlawful and disproportionate, but the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in June. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

The High Court ruled in February that classing Palestine Action as a terror group alongside the likes of al-Qaida and Hamas was disproportionate and unlawful. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

More than one-third of global fragrance sales come from Europe, so winning there can be disproportionate. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 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