disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
: 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
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.
The European experience reveals concerning trends: new market entrants face daunting regulatory hurdles, smaller companies struggle with disproportionate compliance costs, and innovation slows as companies prioritize regulatory alignment over development. Roomy Khan, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 Others have criticized the curriculum as disproportionate, focusing on Christianity much more than other religions. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024 The big picture: Black, Latina, Native American and Pacific Islander women experience disproportionate rates of preterm births, infant mortality and maternal deaths. Marina E. Franco (noticias Telemundo For Axios), Axios, 21 Nov. 2024 Forcing employees to work more than eight hours a day is now a labor exploitation crime Mexico’s human trafficking legislation used to limit cases of labor exploitation to poor conditions, workloads disproportionate to pay, and below-minimum wages. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disproportionate 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of disproportionate was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near disproportionate

Cite this Entry

“Disproportionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disproportionate. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective
dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
-ˈpȯr-
: being out of proportion
disproportionately adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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