Inequality

Inequality
Inequality In`e*qual"i*ty, n.; pl. {Inequalities}. [L. inaequalitas.] [1913 Webster] 1. The quality of being unequal; difference, or lack of equality, in any respect; lack of uniformity; disproportion; unevenness; disparity; diversity; as, an inequality in size, stature, numbers, power, distances, motions, rank, property, etc. [1913 Webster]

There is so great an inequality in the length of our legs and arms as makes it impossible for us to walk on all four. --Ray. [1913 Webster]

Notwithstanding which inequality of number, it was resolved in a council of war to fight the Dutch fleet. --Ludlow. [1913 Webster]

Sympathy is rarely strong where there is a great inequality of condition. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2. Unevenness; lack of levelness; the alternate rising and falling of a surface; as, the inequalities of the surface of the earth, or of a marble slab, etc. [1913 Webster]

The country is cut into so many hills and inequalities as renders it defensible. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

3. Variableness; changeableness; inconstancy; lack of smoothness or equability; deviation; unsteadiness, as of the weather, feelings, etc. [1913 Webster]

Inequality of air is ever an enemy to health. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4. Disproportion to any office or purpose; inadequacy; competency; as, the inequality of terrestrial things to the wants of a rational soul. --South. [1913 Webster]

5. (Alg.) An expression consisting of two unequal quantities, with the sign of inequality (.gt. or .lt.) between them; as, the inequality 2 .lt. 3, or 4 .gt. 1. [1913 Webster]

6. (Astron.) An irregularity, or a deviation, in the motion of a planet or satellite from its uniform mean motion; the amount of such deviation. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • inequality — inequality, social inequality Unequal rewards or opportunities for different individuals within a group or groups within a society. If equality is judged in terms of legal equality, equality of opportunity, or equality of outcome, then inequality …   Dictionary of sociology

  • inequality — UK US /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒləti/ noun [C or U] ECONOMICS ► a situation in which money or opportunities are not shared equally between different groups in society: »Several polls show that one of the biggest issues on people s minds is economic inequality …   Financial and business terms

  • inequality — I noun asymmetry, bias, contrast, deviation, difference, disaccord, disagreement, discrepance, discrepancy, disparity, disproportion, disproportionateness, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, dissimilitude), dissonance, distinction, divergence,… …   Law dictionary

  • inequality — (n.) early 15c., difference of rank or dignity, from O.Fr. inequalité (14c.) and directly from M.L. inaequalitas, from L. inaequalis unequal, from in not, opposite of (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + aequalis equal (see EQUAL (Cf. equal)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • inequality — [n] prejudice; lack of balance asperity, bias, contrast, difference, discrimination, disparity, disproportion, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, diversity, imparity, incommensurateness, injustice, irregularity, one sidedness, partisanship,… …   New thesaurus

  • inequality — ► NOUN (pl. inequalities) ▪ lack of equality …   English terms dictionary

  • inequality — [in΄ē kwôl′ə tē, in΄ēkwäl′ə tē; in΄ikwâl′ə tē, in΄ikwäl′ə tē] n. pl. inequalities [ME inequalitie < MFr inequalité < L inaequalitas] 1. the quality of being unequal; lack of equality 2. an instance of lack of equality; specif., a) a… …   English World dictionary

  • Inequality — In mathematics, an inequality is a statement about the relative size or order of two objects, or about whether they are the same or not (See also: equality) *The notation a < b means that a is less than b . *The notation a > b means that a is… …   Wikipedia

  • inequality — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ great, gross, substantial ▪ the gross social inequalities of the past ▪ Inequalities of income would lead to even greater inequalities in access to health care. ▪ real …   Collocations dictionary

  • inequality */ — UK [ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlətɪ] / US [ˌɪnɪˈkwɑlətɪ] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms inequality : singular inequality plural inequalities a situation in which people are not equal because some groups have more opportunities, power, money etc than others …   English dictionary

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