Meaning & use
equitable
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableformal
Fair to everyone involved, giving each person what they reasonably need or deserve.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an equitable share.
Patterns
- an equitable solution
- equitable access to something
The two partners agreed on an equitable split of the profits.
The school wants an equitable system for assigning classes.
Everyone deserves equitable access to clean water.
adjectivebefore a nounlegal
Relating to a branch of law that settles cases by fairness where strict rules would be unjust.
Grammar: Appears in legal phrases like equitable relief.
Patterns
- equitable relief
- an equitable remedy
The judge granted equitable relief to the tenant.
An equitable remedy can order someone to carry out a promise.
The court's equitable powers allow it to fix an unfair result.
Common combinations
- equitable distribution
- The law calls for equitable distribution of property after a divorce.
- equitable treatment
- Staff expect equitable treatment from managers.
- equitable solution
- They finally reached an equitable solution to the dispute.
- more equitable
- A more equitable tax system could reduce inequality.
- equitable access
- The program promotes equitable access to education.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fair
- Fair is the everyday word, while equitable sounds more formal and focuses on fairness in outcomes.
- impartial
- Impartial describes a judge or process that takes no side, which is not exactly about how things are shared.
- just
- Just stresses moral rightness and the law, while equitable stresses balanced treatment.
- even-handed
- Even-handed is more informal and describes how someone treats people, not the result itself.
Opposites
Word family
- equity noun
- fairness, or the value of a property after debts
- equitably adverb
- in a fair way
- inequitable adjective
- unfair
- inequity noun
- unfairness
Commonly confused: equitable or equal? equitable or equitable?
equitable vs equal
Equal means the same in amount, while equitable means fair, which may mean giving different amounts to people with different needs.
equitable vs equitable
Do not mix it up with 'equestrian', which concerns horse riding.
Practice
A teacher gives extra help to students who struggle so everyone can succeed. Which word best describes this approach?
Choose one answer.
Equitable means fair according to need. Equal, identical and uniform imply the same treatment for all, which is not what the teacher does.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “equitable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.