un·equal
ˌən-ˈē-kwəl 
1
a
: not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as another
b
: not like or not the same as another in degree, worth, or status
3
a
: badly balanced or matched
an unequal contest
b
: contracted between unequals
unequal marriages
c
archaic
: not equable
4
archaic
: not equitable : unjust
5
: inadequate, insufficient
unequal to the task
: one that is not equal to another
archaic
: in an unequal manner
unequal match'd—
William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples of unequal in a Sentence
Adjective
unequal academic standards for male and female students
unequal justice based on race
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
There is no question that separate and unequal schooling created vast disparities in educational attainment.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Although the plaintiffs argued disabled students seeking to participate in the Educational Freedom Accounts program and attend private schools must agree to the diminishment of their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the defendants said unequal treatment is not shown.
—Arkansas Online, 28 July 2025
The viral dystopic show, which centers around main character Seong Gi-hun or Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae), has delighted fans since its 2021 premiere, combining classic thriller elements with a deeper exploration of the human capacity for evil and the perils of an unequal society.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unequal
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Adjective
The white supremacists who wrote the Texas constitutions of 1866 and 1876 ensured that schooling for Black and white students remained inherently separate and unequal.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
There is no question that separate and unequal schooling created vast disparities in educational attainment.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Although the plaintiffs argued disabled students seeking to participate in the Educational Freedom Accounts program and attend private schools must agree to the diminishment of their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the defendants said unequal treatment is not shown.
—Arkansas Online, 28 July 2025
The viral dystopic show, which centers around main character Seong Gi-hun or Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae), has delighted fans since its 2021 premiere, combining classic thriller elements with a deeper exploration of the human capacity for evil and the perils of an unequal society.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unequal
Cite this Entry
“Unequal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unequal. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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