disparity

noun

di-ˈsper-ə-tē How to pronounce disparity (audio)
Definition of disparitynext
as in difference
the quality or state of being different an enormous disparity in the lives of the rich and the poor in that country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disparity Despite winning the division, given the disparity in market, payroll, and legacy – the Rays have two pennants, but no World Series titles, in their 29-year history – it would still be seen as David taking down Goliath. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 Those disparities run throughout the site, according to the KFF analysis. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026 Furthermore, Grail spearheaded a massive lobbying effort — even going so far as to suggest that multicancer screening will reduce health disparities and the American Cancer Society echoed the claim. — H. Gilbert Welch, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026 This disparity discourages investment in maintenance, security and documentation. — Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparity
  1. difference
  2. distinctiveness
  3. distinctness
  4. diversity
  5. contrast
  6. distinction
Noun
  • The only difference between us sitting here and someone on death row is our circumstances.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Having produced one such number per participant, the standard approach then pools all of them into a group average, on the assumption that individual differences are noise that will be canceled out.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • Its strength lies in its capacity to evolve and find new ways to engage with the world around it, generation after generation, while retaining its distinctiveness.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Generally speaking, sports fans don’t bring up United States history when talking about their team’s big game, but that’s the distinctiveness of this rivalry.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of distinctiveness
Noun
  • How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?
    — Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • However, a few hours with Air Riders reveals the nuance and depth of its gameplay, the distinctness of this flavor of racing game and its sensory, chaotic, and strategic appeal.
    — Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
Definition of distinctness
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the university faced scrutiny from the federal government on its research funding and diversity initiatives.
    — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This is despite the City of London’s socio-economic diversity taskforce setting a target for half of senior leaders to come from working-class or non-professional backgrounds by 2030.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of diversity
Noun
  • The sea hag in Widow’s Bay, by contrast, is a monstrous cross between Samara from The Ring, the entity from It Follows, and the lady in the bathtub from The Shining.
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The shoes are made from a black kid suede upper with a nude kid leather insole and a nude leather outsole that add a bit of contrast to the shoe.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of contrast
Noun
  • Richard seems to be drawing a distinction between representing a culture and living it.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On an objective level, this is so close to n log n that the distinction almost doesn’t matter.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction

Browse Nearby Words

disparateness
disparity
dispassion
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Cite this Entry

“Disparity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparity. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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