# parity

/ˈpɛɹəti/ (US) · /pˈæɹɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parity
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. equality of status or pay

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the state of being equal, especially in pay, rights, or power.

For teachers: the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status, pay, or importance between different groups.

- The union is fighting for pay parity between part-time and full-time staff.
- Achieving gender parity in senior management remains a primary objective for the corporation's diversity and inclusion committee.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'between' or 'with'.

### 2. currency value

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

when two different types of money have the same value.

For teachers: the quality or state of being equal or equivalent in value, specifically regarding exchange rates between currencies.

- For the first time in years, the two currencies reached parity.
- Market analysts monitored the situation closely as the Euro approached parity with the US Dollar during the economic downturn.

### 3. mathematics and computing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a property of numbers being either even or odd.

For teachers: the property of an integer being even or odd; in computing, a functional check using a bit to ensure data integrity.

- The computer checks the parity bit to make sure the data is correct.
- The algorithm relies on parity checks to detect errors during the transmission of binary data across the network.

### 4. medical history

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the number of times a woman has given birth.

For teachers: the number of times a female has given birth to a fetus with a viable gestational age.

- The doctor recorded the patient's age and parity on the medical chart.
- Clinical studies indicate that high parity may be a contributing factor to certain obstetric complications in later life.

## Examples

- The workers are fighting for pay parity with their colleagues.
- The new law aims to achieve gender parity in the boardroom by requiring a minimum number of female directors.
- Economists often monitor purchasing power parity to determine whether a currency is undervalued relative to its actual ability to buy goods in different nations.

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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.