equity
EHK-wih-tee
Equity (noun) means Fairness and impartiality, especially in the way people are treated. Example: “The charter promotes equity and inclusion across the school.”
noun
1
Fairness and impartiality, especially in the way people are treated.
"The charter promotes equity and inclusion across the school."
"Teachers should aim for equity, giving every child the support they need."
"The committee discussed how to improve equity in hiring across the company."
2
Finance: the value of an owned property or business after debts are subtracted; ownership stakes in a company (shares).
"After paying off half the mortgage, they have significant equity in their home."
"The startup offered new hires equity instead of a higher salary."
"She sold her shares and used the equity to open a small cafe."
How to use equity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFairness in general — or, in finance, the value you actually own in a property or company once debts are subtracted.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
home equity
equity in the company
private equity
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Word forms
- Plural
- equities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charter promotes _____ and inclusion across the school.
Etymology
From Latin aequitas, "fairness, evenness," from aequus ("equal, fair").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for equity
See all rhymes for equity →Frequently asked questions
What does “equity” mean?
The word “equity” means fairness and impartiality, especially in the way people are treated. In plain terms, fairness in general — or, in finance, the value you actually own in a property or company once debts are subtracted.
How do you pronounce “equity”?
“Equity” is pronounced EHK-wih-tee (/ˈɛk.wɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “equity” in a sentence?
Here is “equity” used in a sentence: “The charter promotes equity and inclusion across the school.”
What part of speech is “equity”?
“Equity” is a noun.
Where does the word “equity” come from?
The word “equity” comes from Latin. From Latin aequitas, "fairness, evenness," from aequus ("equal, fair").
Is “equity” a common word?
“Equity” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “equity” have?
“Equity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fairness and impartiality, especially in the way people are treated.
What is the difference between "equity" and "equality"?
Equality means treating everyone the same, while equity means fairness that may involve treating people differently according to their needs to reach a fair outcome. So equity focuses on fair results, whereas equality focuses on identical treatment.
What are common collocations with "equity"?
In social contexts you see "gender equity," "racial equity," and "equity and inclusion." In finance, common phrases include "home equity," "private equity," "equity stake," and "shareholders' equity."
Is "equity" countable or uncountable?
In the sense of fairness, "equity" is uncountable and used without "a." In finance it is often uncountable too ("build equity"), though the plural "equities" is used to mean shares or stocks traded on the market.
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