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disproportionate
[ dis-pruh-pawr-shuh-nit ]
disproportionate
adjective
- out of proportion; unequal
verb
- chem to undergo or cause to undergo disproportionation
Derived Forms
- ˌdisproˈportionately, adverb
- ˌdisproˈportionateness, noun
Other Words From
- dis·pro·por·tion·ate·ly adverb
- dis·pro·por·tion·ate·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of disproportionate1
Example Sentences
“I believe that dehumanization has contributed to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous People crisis that affects all of our people but that strikes women and girls in disproportionate numbers,” he said.
Gomez Daly reviewed data from the Riverside County registrar that showed voters between the ages of 18 and 24 had a disproportionate number of ballots rejected due to mismatched signatures.
The government is set to order an independent review of rail fare prosecutions and enforcement by train companies following reports of disproportionate action against passengers by revenue protection teams.
With a disproportionate number of Latinos in the service industry, they are vulnerable to economic headwinds.
Dr Dayah points to Quranic verses and the Sunnah that set strict conditions for the conduct of jihad, including the necessity of avoiding actions that provoke an excessive and disproportionate response by an opponent.
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Related Words
More About Disproportionate
What does disproportionate mean?
Disproportionate means uneven or out of balance with something in terms of size, ratio, degree, or extent.
Disproportionate is the opposite of proportionate. Proportionate is the adjective form of the noun proportion, which refers to the relative size of two or more things. When something is described as disproportionate to something else, it means they are somehow unevenly matched.
Example: The military response—striking a dozen different sites with missiles—has been criticized as disproportionate to the act that supposedly provoked it—a single plane briefly entering a no-fly zone.
Where does disproportionate come from?
The first records of disproportionate come from the mid-1500s. The word is a combination of the prefix dis-, meaning “not,” and the word proportionate. Proportionate is the adjective form of the noun proportion, which comes from the Latin prōportiōn-, meaning “symmetry” or “analogy.”
In general, disproportionate relates to the sizes, degrees, and amounts of things in comparison to each other. Some things are disproportionate based on being outside of what their usual proportions should be. Michelangelo’s famous sculpture David is disproportionate—the head and hands are much larger than they would be on a person of that size (of course, this was almost certainly done intentionally).
Scientists might find that a disease disproportionately affects certain people (such as those with a certain genetic makeup), meaning it affects them more than a random selection of the population. The word disproportionate is often used in criticism of things that are out of proportion in an unfair way. A punishment might be called disproportionate if it’s overly extreme, such as a long prison sentence for a minor crime.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to disproportionate?
- disproportion (noun)
- disproportionately (adverb)
- proportioned (adjective)
- disproportionateness (noun)
What are some synonyms for disproportionate?
What are some words that share a root or word element with disproportionate?
What are some words that often get used in discussing disproportionate?
How is disproportionate used in real life?
The word disproportionate indicates unevenness and it often implies unfairness.
Pompeo in calls with foreign counterparts today is reiterating "the United States is committed to de-escalation," even as Trump is threatening Iran with a "disproportionate" military response including striking Iranian cultural sites
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) January 6, 2020
Have you ever seen something as anatomically disproportionate as the Canada Lynx? pic.twitter.com/g7V9Ze6epN
— Jameson Di Nucci (@jamesondinucci) May 7, 2020
We should all be critical of the disproportionate number of NSF fellows awarded to students from top tiered institutions and challenge the application process to be more equitable
— Jamelle (@JamelleWD) April 1, 2020
Try using disproportionate!
Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used to describe a situation considered disproportionate?
A. equal
B. uneven
C. mismatched
D. lopsided
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