Word
inequity
Phoneticsin·equity
US/ˌɪˈnɛkwəti/
UK/ɪnˈɛkwɪti/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. unfair treatment that gives some people fewer chances or resources than others. You use this when the difference feels wrong and could be fixed.
n. lack of fairness or justice in how resources, opportunities, or treatment are distributed. Often contrasted with inequality to stress avoidable and morally objectionable difference rather than mere unevenness.
Examples
“The new policy tries to fix inequity in local schools.”
“The clinic offers evening hours to reduce health inequity for workers who cannot visit during the day.”
“Scholars argue that persistent educational inequity stems less from individual effort than from decades of uneven funding across districts.”
Examples
simple
“The new policy tries to fix inequity in local schools.”
contextual
“The clinic offers evening hours to reduce health inequity for workers who cannot visit during the day.”
complex
“Scholars argue that persistent educational inequity stems less from individual effort than from decades of uneven funding across districts.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inequity” in context.
Verb
01. address inequity
“Policymakers must urgently address inequity in school funding.”
verb + noun
02. expose inequity
“The investigation exposed inequity in access to legal aid.”
verb + noun
03. inequity persists
“Despite new laws, inequity persists in promotion and pay.”
noun + verb
04. inequity undermines
“Inequity undermines public trust in the health system.”
noun + verb
05. inequity widens
“Without intervention, inequity widens between rich and poor districts.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. economic inequity
“Rapid growth has masked deep economic inequity between regions.”
adj + noun
07. gender inequity
“Gender inequity in pay remains a major issue in the tech sector.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. form of inequity
“Denying paid leave is a subtle form of inequity.”
noun + prep + noun
09. legacy of inequity
“Apartheid left a lasting legacy of inequity in land ownership.”
noun + prep + noun
10. pattern of inequity
“The data reveals a clear pattern of inequity in university admissions.”
noun + prep + noun
11. address systemic inequity in education
“The reform seeks to address systemic inequity in education funding.”
12. correct a historic inequity
“The scholarship aims to correct a historic inequity in admissions.”
Real-World Examples
“So, while 311 services can be channels for civic participation and a pragmatic way to monitor and manage rats, they can also reflect broader social inequities .” “Long Le, a senior research fellow in the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said the findings highlight persistent mental health inequities affecting queer communities.” “Lee wants to show the true cost of the overachieving Asian stereotype, the sacrifices of the “tiger mom” and the inequities of the elite education system.” “The gap in traffic safety between Philadelphia’s richest and poorest neighborhoods is a key inequity to address.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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