inequity

noun

in·​eq·​ui·​ty (ˌ)i-ˈne-kwə-tē 

1

: injustice, unfairness

2

: an instance of injustice or unfairness

Synonyms

• injustice
• unfairness
• unjustness

Examples of inequity in a Sentence

the inequities in wages paid to men and women

the inequity of the punishment led many people to believe that the defendant was being punished for his political beliefs

Recent Examples on the Web

The inequity has mystified some of the 55 million people of Myanmar, who in the months after the coup lobbied the United Nations to intervene to protect a vulnerable population. —Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

How much the retirement accounts of men and women grow in different market conditions illustrates how long-lasting the effects of a lifetime of pay inequities can be, and how difficult to overcome. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inequity

noun

in·​eq·​ui·​ty (ˈ)in-ˈek-wət-ē 

plural inequities

1

: injustice sense 1, unfairness

2

: an instance of injustice or unfairness

Legal Definition

inequity

noun

in·​eq·​ui·​ty in-ˈe-kwə-tē 

plural inequities

: injustice

also : an instance of injustice