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

But as a result of the election last week, the House Republican conference is smaller, with a disproportionate number of moderates and swing-district lawmakers retiring or voted out. — Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026

For such a small village, Braun said, Flossmoor had a disproportionate number of people in military service. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026

There may be no bias as prevalent in politics and rhetoric as recency bias, the inclination to give disproportionate emphasis to recent events and statements rather than historical overview and contemplation. — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026

But a disproportionate focus on manufacturing and technology cannot increase productivity or wages if those investments are decoupled from the needs of the market and trends in aggregate final demand. — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 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