disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

: being out of proportion

a disproportionate share

disproportionately adverb

Examples of disproportionate in a Sentence

He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

A disproportionate number of the students are poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Because the fees are calculated according to weight, glass is facing disproportionate costs compared to cardboard and plastic. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

So, a relatively cheap drone could therefore cause damage vastly disproportionate to its cost. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

What is happening in Gaza is a catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disprōportiōnātus, past participle of disprōportiōnāre "to make out of proportion," from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disproportionate

• extortionate
• proportionate

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət 

-ˈpȯr-

: being out of proportion

disproportionately adverb