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

Where are the bottlenecks consuming time disproportionate to their value? —Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Small quality issues can trigger disproportionate swings in inventory movement, forcing teams to adjust plans frequently and under time pressure. —Sophia Chu, Sourcing Journal, 22 Jan. 2026

Of Industrious’ last 50 workspace openings, a disproportionate number are in neighborhoods, not in large central business districts. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026

The disproportionate health burdens women of color face are not unique to the perimenopause and menopause experience. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 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