# inequality

/ˈɪniˈkwɑɫəti/ (US) · /ɪniːkwˈɒlɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inequality
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. social or economic unfairness

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- 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'.

### 2. mathematical comparison

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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 ≥.

## Examples

- The government is trying to reduce income inequality.
- The report highlights the growing inequality in access to healthcare between urban and rural populations.
- While the country's overall wealth has increased, the widening gap of economic inequality suggests that these gains have not been distributed equitably across the various social strata.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.