What does "inequality" mean?

1. (social or economic unfairness) a situation where some people have much more money, power, or better chances than others. 2. (mathematical comparison) a statement that two amounts are not equal, often using symbols like 'greater than' or 'less than'.

How do you use "inequality"?

Often used with 'social', 'economic', or 'gender'. Commonly used with symbols such as , ≤, or ≥.

inequality

US //ˈɪniˈkwɑɫəti// UK //ɪniːkwˈɒlɪti// in·equal·i·ty

1 social or economic unfairness (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

a situation where some people have much more money, power, or better chances than others.

the unfair distribution of resources, opportunities, or status within a society.

Example

The government is trying to reduce the inequality between the rich and the poor.

Example

Structural inequality often persists across generations, limiting the social mobility of those born into lower-income households.

Usage

Often used with 'social', 'economic', or 'gender'.
- equality
- fairness
2 mathematical comparison (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Math

a statement that two amounts are not equal, often using symbols like 'greater than' or 'less than'.

a mathematical expression showing that one quantity is greater than, less than, or not equal to another.

Example

The teacher asked us to solve the inequality where x is greater than five.

Example

The student struggled to graph the linear inequality on the coordinate plane, forgetting to shade the region representing the solution set.

Usage

Commonly used with symbols such as <, >, ≤, or ≥.
- equation

Origin

From Middle English inequalite, from Old French inequalité, from Medieval Latin inaequālitās, from Latin inaequālis (“unequal”), from in- (“not”) + aequālis (“equal”). Morphologically inequal + -ity and in- + equality.