English · Word Candidate

inequality

/ˌɪn.ɪˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: inequalities

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Absence of equality. — A condition or state (of social, cultural, or legal matters) that is not equal; especially, such a condition that is thereby also unfair.

Noun

Examples

The inequality in living standards led to a civil war as the have-nots rebelled.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Absence of equality. — A statement that of two quantities one is specifically less than (or greater than) another. Symbol: < or ≤ or > or ≥ or ne , as appropriate.

Noun

Examples

The inequality x is less than y, together with that ylt;z, allows us to deduce the inequality xlt;z.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “inequality” mean?

Absence of equality. — A condition or state (of social, cultural, or legal matters) that is not equal; especially, such a condition that is thereby also unfair.

Is “inequality” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.