Word
iniquity
Phoneticsin·iq·ui·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪˈnɪkwɪti/
UK/ɪnˈɪkwɪti/
Definitions
01wickedness or injustice
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. the quality of being very unfair or morally wrong.
n. gross injustice or wickedness; the quality of being deeply immoral. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“The reformer spent his life fighting against the iniquity of the slave trade.”
“The philosopher argued that the inherent iniquity of the social system would eventually lead to a total collapse of public trust.”
Usage
Often used in the singular to describe a general state of unfairness.
Teaching tip
This is a high-level, formal word often found in religious or historical texts; students should use 'unfairness' or 'wrongdoing' in everyday speech.
Synonyms
02a wicked act
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. a specific action that is very unfair or evil.
n. a specific act of great injustice or a wicked deed. Countable in this sense.
“The survivors told stories of the iniquities committed during the long war.”
“The commission was tasked with investigating the various iniquities perpetrated by the regime against its own citizens.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural to list specific instances of wrongdoing.
Teaching tip
Note the plural form 'iniquities' when referring to multiple specific events.
Real-World Examples
“In medieval and early modern England, the alehouse was considered a den of iniquity, as is clear from William Langland's 14th-century poem, Piers Plowman .” “Manteris spent decades running sportsbooks in Vegas, presiding over such fabled dens of iniquity as Caesars Palace and the Hilton; the industry he left in 2021 bore little resemblance to the one he’d entered.” Etymology
From Middle English iniquite, jniquite (“evil, wickedness, iniquity; evil act; hostility, malevolence; hostile act; a calamity, misfortune”), from Old French iniquité (modern French iniquité (“iniquity”)), from Latin inīquitās (“iniquity; inequality, unfairness; inequity, injustice”), from inīquus (“unequal, uneven, unfair; disadvantageous, unfavourable; hostile, unkind; unsuitable; wicked, wrong”) + -itās (variant of -tās (suffix forming a noun indicating a state of being)). Inīquus is derived from in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + aequus (“equal; fair, impartial, just”). Piecewise doublet of inequity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. sink of iniquity
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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