Meaning & use

disparity

noun·Academic

A noticeable and often unfair difference between two things, especially in level or amount.

See it in a sentence

The report highlighted a stark disparity in pay between men and women in the same role.

There is a wide disparity between the wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods in the city.

A note on using this word

Almost always describes an unfair or troubling gap rather than a neutral difference.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

parityequality

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