Word
inequality
Phoneticsin·equal·i·ty
US/ˈɪniˈkwɑɫəti/
UK/ɪniːkwˈɒlɪti/
Definitions
01social or economic unfairness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. a situation where some people have much more money, power, or better chances than others.
n. the unfair distribution of resources, opportunities, or status within a society.
日本語:不平等※
“The government is trying to reduce the inequality between the rich and the poor.”
“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'.
Synonyms
02mathematical comparison
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a statement that two amounts are not equal, often using symbols like 'greater than' or 'less than'.
n. a mathematical expression showing that one quantity is greater than, less than, or not equal to another.
“The teacher asked us to solve the inequality where x is greater than five.”
“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 ≥.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inequality” in context.
Adjective
01. social inequality
“The government is implementing new policies to address social inequality and improve access to education.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Students who face intersecting forms of inequality—LGBTIQA+ students, international students and students of color—are even more likely to experience sexual violence.” “That movement gained popularity in the early 2020s, particularly after the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, sparked a public reckoning over racial inequality.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/inequality
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0