disparity
noun
dis·par·i·ty
di-ˈsper-ə-tē 
-ˈspa-rə-
plural disparities
: a noticeable and usually significant difference or dissimilarity
economic/income disparities
The fact is that America's colleges … have lately been exacerbating more than ameliorating the widening disparity of wealth and opportunity in American society.—
Andrew Delbanco
Andrew Delbanco… in no other composer is the disparity between the man and his work so immense. Bach's life is considered stupefyingly ordinary, but his music is divine …—Edward Rothstein
Edward Rothstein
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Disparity contains the Latin dis, meaning "apart" or "non-", so a disparity is a kind of "nonequality". The word is often used to describe a social or economic condition that's considered unfairly unequal: a racial disparity in hiring, a health disparity between the rich and the poor, an income disparity between men and women, and so on. Its adjective, disparate (accented on the first syllable), is often used to emphasize strong differences.
Examples of disparity in a Sentence
an enormous disparity in the lives of the rich and the poor in that country
Recent Examples on the Web
The stark disparities in MLB payrolls continues to prompt discussion about whether the sport needs a salary cap.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
While most change happens organically over time, skyrocketing domestic inequality and widening geographic disparities in tech have brought us to an inflection point as a country.
—Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
Addressing these disparities also involves changing the narrative around who is considered a philanthropist.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
And there was one other big disparity: men and women.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disparity
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Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
While most change happens organically over time, skyrocketing domestic inequality and widening geographic disparities in tech have brought us to an inflection point as a country.
—Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
Addressing these disparities also involves changing the narrative around who is considered a philanthropist.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
And there was one other big disparity: men and women.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disparity
Articles Related to disparity
Cite this Entry
“Disparity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disparity. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
disparity
noun
dis·par·i·ty
dis-ˈpar-ət-ē
plural disparities
: the state of being different or dissimilar (as in the sensory information received) see retinal disparity
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