unequal

adjective

un·equal | \ ˌən-ˈē-kwəl

Definition of unequal

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as another

b : not like or not the same as another in degree, worth, or status

2 : not uniform : variable, uneven

3a : badly balanced or matched an unequal contest

b : contracted between unequals unequal marriages

c archaic : not equable

4 archaic : not equitable : unjust

5 : inadequate, insufficient unequal to the task

unequal

noun

Definition of unequal (Entry 2 of 3)

: one that is not equal to another

unequal

adverb

Definition of unequal (Entry 3 of 3)

archaic

: in an unequal manner unequal match'd— William Shakespeare

Other Words from unequal Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about unequal

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Examples of unequal in a Sentence

Adjective

unequal academic standards for male and female students unequal justice based on race

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The Massachusetts 7th Congressional District is the most diverse district in our delegation, and also one of the most unequal. — Rebecca Nelson, Marie Claire, "2019's Barrier-Breaking Politicians Get to Work," 3 Jan. 2019 Yet, like nearly all states, Washington offers unequal financial support, limited service and uncertain custodial standing. — Marcus Harrison Green, The Seattle Times, "Grandparents raising grandkids say they need more help from Washington state," 28 Dec. 2018 The planet, Urras, is a lot like ours: beautiful, capitalistic, unequal, and filled with nations in continuous cold and hot wars. — Vox Staff, Vox, "The most thought-provoking books the Vox staff read in 2018," 21 Dec. 2018 Nor is there a tournament in the separate-but-unequal world of black amateur tennis that goes unmentioned. — Edward Kosner, WSJ, "‘Arthur Ashe’ Review: A Hard Road to Glory," 17 Aug. 2018 Income inequality is a natural place to start because, among the rich countries, the U.S. is the most unequal. — Alan S. Blinder, WSJ, "What if Trump Really Wanted to Make America Great Again?," 3 Dec. 2018 Airlines have reported some of the widest pay gaps, yet are unlikely to have unequal pay, because collective bargaining tends to determine salaries in the industry. — The Economist, "Forcing employers to reveal their gender pay gaps is making them think," 5 Apr. 2018 Latin America’s largest nation is one of the most unequal in the world, making Franco’s rise in politics all the more unusual. — Washington Post, "Thousands in Rio demand answers about murder of councilwoman," 20 Mar. 2018 Just two years after the crash, the nation’s Gini coefficient, the standard measure of wealth distribution, was at 46.9, making the US among the most unequal of modern democracies. — Scott Timberg, Vox, "How music has responded to a decade of economic inequality," 30 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unequal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.