inequalities

IPA/ˌɪn.ɪˈkwɒl.ə.ti/
KK[ˌɪnəkwˈɑlɪtiz]IPA/ˌɪn.ɪˈkwɑː.lə.t̬i/

inequalities — noun

  • inequalitiessingular
  • inequalitiesesplural

1. a situation in which some people or groups have far more money, opportunities, o

1.名詞B2
釋義

a situation in which some people or groups have far more money, opportunities, or power than others, creating an unfair difference within a society

例句

Hoa's research focuses on how income inequality affects children's education in rural areas.

collocation: income inequality

Gender inequality in the workplace remains a serious problem across many industries.

collocation: gender inequality + in the workplace

同義詞
  • disparity

    more neutral and narrower in scope; often used for measurable gaps (income disparity)

  • imbalance

    suggests a lack of proportion rather than unfairness; used for numbers or ratios

  • disproportion

    formal; highlights that the shares do not match what one would expect

反義詞
  • equality

    the direct opposite — a state where everyone has the same rights or amounts

  • fairness

    broader; refers to just treatment rather than equal distribution

文法句型

inequality + in [area]

inequality + between [groups]

inequality + of [resource]

用法筆記

Distinguish from inequity: inequality describes a measurable difference (e.g. income gaps), while inequity emphasises that the difference is unfair or unjust. Not every inequality is an inequity, but in social contexts the two often overlap.

常見錯誤

❌Inequality is when people are treated unfair.
✅Inequality is a situation in which people have different levels of wealth or opportunity.
💡'when' clauses define, but a noun definition should name the thing first.

2. in mathematics, a written statement that shows one quantity is larger or smaller

2.名詞B1
釋義

in mathematics, a written statement that shows one quantity is larger or smaller than another, using symbols such as < (less than), > (greater than), or ≠ (not equal to)

例句

Eitan solved the inequality 2x + 5 > 13 on the blackboard during his algebra class.

syntax: solve an inequality + algebraic expression

The teacher asked the class to graph the inequality y ≤ 3x − 1 on a coordinate plane.

反義詞
  • equation

    a statement that two quantities are equal (=), the direct counterpart of an inequality

文法句型

inequality + symbol (e.g. x > 5)

solve + an inequality

an inequality + sign

用法筆記

In mathematics, an inequality is a complete statement (e.g. 7 > 4), not just a symbol. The term 'inequality sign' refers to the symbol itself (<, >, ≤, ≥, ≠). This sense is countable — you can refer to 'two inequalities'.

常見錯誤

❌Write the inequality sign 5 < 9.
✅Write the inequality 5 < 9.
💡the sign is the symbol (<); the whole expression is the inequality.