unequal

play

adjective un·equal \ˌən-ˈē-kwəl\

Definition of unequal

1a : not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as anotherb : 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 contestb : contracted between unequals unequal marriagesc archaic : not equable
4 archaic : not equitable : unjust
5 : inadequate, insufficient unequal to the task

unequally

play \ˌən-ˈē-kwə-lē\ adverb

See unequal defined for English-language learners

See unequal defined for kids

Examples of unequal in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of unequal from the Web

The city's Gini coefficient -- an index from 0 to 1 that measures inequality, with higher scores indicating a more unequal society -- has risen from 0.525 in 2001, to 0.539 in 2016, the highest since records began almost five decades ago.

— james griffiths, CNN, "5 major challenges for Hong Kong's new leader Carrie Lam", 29 June 2017
When someone joked that all the snacks seemed to be on the wealthy nations’ tables, Sterman let on that the unequal bagel distribution was intentional.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "Fake climate negotiations produce real impacts", 26 June 2017
Although judges have commonly struck down districts because of unequal populations or racial gerrymandering, the courts until now have been reluctant to define exactly when partisan map manipulation crosses the line and becomes unconstitutional.

— david a. lieb, The Seattle Times, "AP analysis shows how gerrymandering benefited GOP in 2016", 25 June 2017
A 1999 plan for the south lakefront has helped alter that separate-but-unequal reality.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Lack of coordination on Obama center, Tiger Woods golf course threatens Jackson Park redesign", 23 June 2017
The Republican Party is committed to the maintenance of a grossly unequal social hierarchy that handicaps the poor for the circumstances of their lives.

— sarah jones, New Republic, "The Senate health care bill is a blatant attack on America’s most vulnerable.", 22 June 2017
Sadly, that ignorance of Juneteenth reflects a deeper issue: the continued existence of two histories, black and white, separate and unequal.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "Celebrating a Second Independence Day: A Juneteenth Reading List", 21 June 2017
The pathologies might be unequal, but neither side is well.

— t.a. frank, The Hive, "Is the Left Also to Blame for Political Violence?", 20 June 2017
This borough is the wealthiest constituency in Britain, and one of its most unequal.

— samuel earle, The Atlantic, "The Political Kindling of the Grenfell Fire", 20 June 2017

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.

First Known Use of unequal

1565

unequal

noun un·equal

Definition of unequal

: one that is not equal to another

First Known Use of unequal

1600

unequal

adverb un·equal

Definition of unequal

archaic

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

First Known Use of unequal

1602

UNEQUAL Defined for English Language Learners

unequal

play

adjective

Definition of unequal for English Language Learners

: not the same in a way that is unfair : giving more advantages, power, etc., to some people and less to other people for unfair reasons
: different in number, degree, quality, size, etc.
: not able to do what is needed