Fair and impartial in treatment or judgment; characterized by justice and reasonableness. Giving each person what they deserve based on their circumstances.
From Latin 'aequitas' meaning 'equality' or 'fairness,' derived from 'aequus' (equal). In legal contexts, equity developed as a system to provide fair solutions when strict law might produce unjust results.
Remember 'equi-' means equal, but equitable doesn't always mean treating everyone exactly the same - it means treating everyone fairly based on their needs. Like giving a shorter person a taller stool so everyone can see over the fence equally well.
Equitable access became urgent language in 20th-century feminist economics and civil rights, addressing how systems historically excluded women and minorities from equal distribution of resources.
Use 'equitable' to emphasize fair process beyond formal equality—essential when discussing wage gaps, leadership pipelines, and institutional barriers.
Women economists like Barbara Bergmann pioneered frameworks proving equitable distribution requires active redistribution, not just removal of formal barriers.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.