equity
EK-wih-tee
/ˈɛk.wɪ.ti/
Fairness and justice in the distribution of economic resources, accounting for individual starting positions and needs.
Equity means giving people what they need to achieve equal outcomes, whereas equality gives everyone the exact same resource regardless of need.
The story behind the word. Rooted in Latin 'aequus' (even, level, equal). In classical Roman jurisprudence, 'aequitas' was the moral concept of fairness invoked when strict application of legal codes resulted in harsh or unjust outcomes.
Word relationships
- fairness: 'Fairness' is a general moral concept; 'equity' is a structured institutional standard of distributional justice.
- impartiality: 'Impartiality' means lack of bias, whereas 'equity' actively adjusts resources to achieve justice.
- inequity: 'Inequity' refers specifically to unfairness or systematic injustice in resource allocation.
Commonly confused with
- equality: 'Equality' means giving everyone identical treatment; 'equity' means adjusting treatment so that outcomes are fair.
Word family
- equitable (adjective): Fair and impartial.
- equitably (adverb): In a fair and just manner.
Collocations
- social equity
- economic equity
- promote equity
- equity and fairness
Idioms & expressions
- level playing field
Example sentences
- "Achieving health equity requires directing additional clinic resources to historically underserved communities." Public health policy statement
- "Policy makers must strike a delicate balance between economic efficiency and social equity." Economic philosophy context
Memory hook
EQUity makes conditions EQUAL for people with different starting levels. Leveling the ground so all can reach.
When not to use
Avoid confusing social equity with corporate financial stock value unless context explicitly warrants financial analysis.
Fun facts
- In legal history, 'Courts of Equity' in England were formed to deliver justice based on conscience when rigid statutory laws failed.
Related words
Also appears in
- Conflict → Fairness & Impartiality
- Business → Entrepreneurship & Startups
- Business → Compensation & Benefits
- Finance → Investment & Portfolio Management
- Finance → Stocks, Bonds & Derivatives
- Finance → Real Estate & Property
- Philosophy → Moral Philosophy & Ethical Theory
- Philosophy → Justice & Political Philosophy
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Structural Inequality & Distribution
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Housing Markets & Zoning
- Health Sciences → Medical Ethics & Bioethics
- Political Science & Governance → Welfare State & Safety Nets
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