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equitable

EK-wih-tuh-bul /ˈɛkwɪtəbəl/

adjectiveC1GRESATUPSC

formallegal

Fair and impartial; dealing fairly and equally with all concerned.

'Equitable' is different from 'equal.' 'Equal' means everyone gets the same thing; 'equitable' means everyone gets what they need to reach a fair outcome.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'aequitas', which means 'evenness' or 'fairness.' In Roman law, 'aequitas' was a principle used to temper the harshness of strict laws to ensure a just result in specific cases.

Word relationships

fair: A more common, less formal word for treating people without favoritism.
impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally; unbiased.

inequitable: Unfair; unjust.
biased: Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.

Commonly confused with

equal: Equal is giving everyone the same size shoe; equitable is giving everyone a shoe that fits.

Word family

equity (noun): The quality of being fair and impartial; the value of shares issued by a company.
equitably (adverb): In a fair and impartial manner.

Collocations

equitable distribution
equitable treatment
equitable access
equitable solution

Example sentences

"The goal is an equitable distribution of resources to ensure that no community is left behind." A UN document discussing the goals for global development.
"The settlement was praised for being equitable, taking into account the different financial situations of the two companies." The judge sought a solution that would satisfy both parties in the dispute.

Memory hook

Think of 'Equitable' as 'Equal-Table.' Everyone at the table is treated fairly based on their specific needs. Fairness, not just sameness.

When not to use

Don't use 'equitable' when you just mean 'even' or 'level' in a physical sense.

Fun facts

In finance, 'equity' refers to ownership, but the root is the same: it represents a 'fair' share of the company's value.