un·equal
ˌən-ˈē-kwəl 
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
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
: one that is not equal to another
archaic
: in an unequal manner
unequal match'd—
William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples of unequal in a Sentence
Adjective
unequal academic standards for male and female students
unequal justice based on race
Recent Examples on the Web
David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
The Court ruled that unequal representation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and that all citizens’ votes should carry roughly equal weight.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Advertisement And Britain is more unequal, too.
—Anand Menon, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
South Africa remains a deeply unequal nation, and many children still do not have access to the ocean.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unequal
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Adjective
Indeed, allowing men but not women to have multiple spouses is clearly unequal and entwined with patriarchal ideology that positions women as subordinate or inferior to men.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
The Court ruled that unequal representation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and that all citizens’ votes should carry roughly equal weight.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Advertisement And Britain is more unequal, too.
—Anand Menon, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
South Africa remains a deeply unequal nation, and many children still do not have access to the ocean.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unequal
Cite this Entry
“Unequal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unequal. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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