ENGLISH
REFERENCE

disproportionate

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌdɪspɹəˈpɔɹʃənɪt// UK //dˌɪspɹəpˈɔːʃənət// dis·pro·por·tion·ate

adj. too large or too small when you compare it to something else. It describes a situation where things are not in balance.

adj. out of proportion; of an amount or size that is too large or too small in relation to something else. Often used to describe social or economic imbalances.


SIMPLE

The punishment was disproportionate to the crime.

CONTEXTUAL

A disproportionate amount of the city's budget is spent on road repairs compared to public education.

COMPLEX

The study revealed that low-income families spend a disproportionate share of their earnings on basic utilities, leaving little room for savings or emergency expenses.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From dis- + proportionate.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'to'. Often used in formal or academic contexts to discuss statistics and social justice.

Pitfall

a disproportionate amount from the totala disproportionate amount of the totalWhen describing a part of a whole, use 'of'; when comparing two different things, use 'to'.

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