inequity

noun

in·​eq·​ui·​ty (ˌ)i-ˈne-kwə-tē 

1

: injustice, unfairness

social/racial/educational inequity

… rebellion against flagrant inequity in the labor market …

—Robert Lekachman

2

: an instance of injustice or unfairness

wage inequities

Synonyms of inequity

• injustice

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

With alleged killer Luigi Mangione now on trial, and health care premiums for many Americans set to spike, the national conversation around health care inequity will likely enter the spotlight again. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Church leaders say the burden is especially heavy for working families, seniors, and communities already facing economic inequities. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025

For Aney, the death of Farida’s father once again put into sharp relief the inequities of India’s health care system. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025

People who are disengaged from issues of inequity, and who don’t invest in learning and growing as allies, experience lower self-confidence at work and have lower job satisfaction. —John M. Lavelle, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inequity

• equity

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