inequality
/ɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti
/noun (plural inequalities) [mass noun]
1Difference in size, degree, circumstances, etc.; lack of equality: social inequality [count noun]: the widening inequalities in income...
- The free market program implemented by successive governments has widened social inequality to an unprecedented degree.
- Our results indicate that cross-country differences in income inequality alone does not explain for much of the variations in child labour worldwide.
- The underlying cause of growing discontent is the enormous degree of social inequality that has resulted from the introduction of capitalism in the former Soviet Union.
Synonyms
imbalance, inequity, unevenness, disproportion, inconsistency, variation, variability;
divergence, polarity, disparity, discrepancy, dissimilarity, difference, contrast, distinction, differential;
bias, prejudice, discrimination, unfairness, unfair treatment
1.1 Mathematics The relation between two expressions that are not equal, employing a sign such as ≠ ‘not equal to’, > ‘greater than’, or < ‘less than’.
1.2 [count noun] Mathematics A symbolic expression of the fact that two quantities are not equal.His early work was on number theory and he wrote on Diophantine inequalities and the geometry of numbers....
- He studied inequalities and geometry and measure theory, particularly working in this area with Besicovitch.
- In fact he is remembered for Farkas theorem which is used in linear programming and also for his work on linear inequalities.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French inequalite, or from Latin inaequalitas, from in- 'not' + aequalis (see equal).