disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
Synonyms of disproportionatenext
: being out of proportion
a disproportionate share
disproportionately adverb

Examples of disproportionate in a Sentence

He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden. A disproportionate number of the students are poor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The novelty of a rare disease outbreak can result in disproportionate media attention, Wang says. Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 15 May 2026 According to the Period Education Project, Black women and girls face disproportionate rates of period poverty, with 23% of Black respondents in a 2021 survey reporting difficulty affording menstrual products. Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 14 May 2026 Zoning accounts for a disproportionate number of meetings this term compared to last because the City Council no longer holds meetings with the full council and mayor on committee days. Nick Sullivan may 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026 This decision contradicts scientific evidence and ignores the reality that women — particularly Black women — bear a disproportionate burden of obesity and its complications. Latisa S Carson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disproportionate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disprōportiōnātus, past participle of disprōportiōnāre "to make out of proportion," from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disproportionate was in 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Disproportionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disproportionate. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective
dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
-ˈpȯr-
: being out of proportion
disproportionately adverb

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