unequal

1 of 3

adjective

un·​equal ˌən-ˈē-kwəl How to pronounce unequal (audio)
1
a
: 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
3
a
: 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
unequally adverb

unequal

2 of 3

noun

: one that is not equal to another

unequal

3 of 3

adverb

archaic
: in an unequal manner
unequal match'dWilliam Shakespeare

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 outcome of such unequal distribution creates significant limits on women's career choices, income, and social mobility. Gemma Allen, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Medicare should allocate funding based on need — not unequal territorial status. Mariela Torres Cintrón, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 Trump famously promised to drain the swamp, but proved unequal to the task, filling his appointments with the usual corporate lobbyists and assorted swamp creatures. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024 Related article Anguish lingers as transgender kids’ families seek medical care outside Texas — and fight a state ban Respondents also reported moving from states like Florida, Virginia, Texas, and North Carolina because of laws targeting transgender people for unequal treatment. Chandelis Duster, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024 Black servicemembers also suffered disproportionately during the first years of the Vietnam War, and many Black Americans remember that unequal sacrifice. Naima Green-Riley, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024 Ultimately, this unequal access to Medicare benefits and cost-sharing assistance contributes to a scenario where low-income elderly Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico may experience inferior health care services compared with their counterparts in the states. Mariela Torres Cintrón, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 These problems are symptoms but not the root of the cause, which is unequal access to the data needed to train AI systems. Or Lenchner, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Gender and racial bias, as well as unequal access to health care, also continue to play a role in later diagnoses. Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unequal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unequal was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near unequal

Cite this Entry

“Unequal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unequal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unequal

adjective
un·​equal
ˌən-ˈē-kwəl,
ˈən-
1
a
: not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as another
b
: not like or not the same as another in value or worth
2
3
: badly balanced or matched
an unequal fight
4
: inadequate, insufficient
unequal to the task
unequally
-kwə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unequal

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