Unequal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈiːkwəl/

Definitions

1. Not the same in quantity, size, degree, or value; characterized by disparity or lack of balance
2. Not having the same value, quality, or amount, resulting in disparity or imbalance in comparison between entities
3. Characterized by a lack of equivalence or similarity in aspects such as size, quality, or degree, creating disparity

Etymology: "Unequal" is a plain compound: the prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "equal." The adjective "equal" came into English from Latin "aequalis," meaning level, smooth or of the same kind, which is built on "aequus," meaning even or level. So the word's core idea is literal evenness, a surface or a measure lying flat against another. The negated form entered Middle English as "unequale," and its earliest sense was concrete: things that were not the same size or height, or that did not sit level. The abstract sense of fairness or inequality of treatment grew out of that comparison of measures. German offers a close parallel in "unegal," meaning uneven or unlevel, showing that the same physical picture of a surface out of true lies behind the word in both languages.

Synonyms: uneven, disproportionate, unbalanced, inconsistent, irregular

Antonyms: equal, uniform, consistent, balanced, identical