disparity
dih-SPAR-it-ee
/dɪˈspærɪti/
A noticeable and usually unfair difference or imbalance between two or more things.
Focuses on the measurable gap or divergence between groups or metrics.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'dis-' (apart, away) and 'par' (equal). It literally means 'separated from equality'. It moved from French into 16th-century English as an analytical term for mismatched proportions.
Word relationships
- gap: Gap is plain English, whereas disparity sounds formal and analytical.
- divergence: Divergence stresses moving apart over time, whereas disparity highlights the current unequal state.
- parity: Parity denotes exact state of equality or equivalence.
Commonly confused with
- disparity: Do not confuse with 'disparagement' (the act of belittling someone).
Word family
- disparate (adjective): Essentially different in kind; impossible to compare.
Collocations
- stark disparity
- growing disparity
- income disparity
- disparity between
Example sentences
- "The census revealed a striking disparity in literacy rates between urban and mountainous districts." Sociological report on literacy
Memory hook
DIS-PARITY = DIS-ABLED PARITY (no longer equal). A difference that disrupts parity.
When not to use
Avoid using for tiny, trivial differences between identical items.
Fun facts
- Golf uses 'par' from the same Latin root to mean the benchmark standard score.
Explore more words
disparate, disproportionate, discrepancy, differ, asymmetry, equitable
Also appears in
- Linguistics → Latin & Greek Prefixes: De-, Dis-, Un- (Negation/Reversal)
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Structural Inequality & Distribution
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Labor Economics & Wages
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Development & Mixed Economies
- Education & Pedagogy → Single-Sex vs Coeducation
- Health Sciences → Healthcare Access & Inequality
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