iniquity

Meaning

  1. (uncountable) Deviation from what is right; gross injustice, sin, wickedness.
  2. (countable) An act of great injustice or unfairness; a sinful or wicked act; an unconscionable deed.

Frequency

34k
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ɪnˈɪkwɪti/
Etymology

In summary

From Middle English iniquite, jniquite (“evil, wickedness, iniquity; evil act; hostility, malevolence; hostile act; a calamity, misfortune”), from Old French iniquité (modern French iniquité (“iniquity”)), from Latin inīquitās (“iniquity; inequality, unfairness; inequity, injustice”), from inīquus (“unequal, uneven, unfair; disadvantageous, unfavourable; hostile, unkind; unsuitable; wicked, wrong”) + -itās (variant of -tās (suffix forming a noun indicating a state of being)). Inīquus is derived from in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + aequus (“equal; fair, impartial, just”). Piecewise doublet of inequity.

Notes

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