Equal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈiːkwÉ™l/

Alternative forms

• æqual archaic
• æquall archaic

Origin

From Latin aequālis.

Full definition of equal

Adjective

1. (not comparable) The same in all respects.Equal conditions should produce equal results.All men are created equal.
• CheyneThey who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
2. (mathematics, not comparable) Exactly identical, having the same value.All right angles are equal.
3. (obsolete) Fair, impartial.
• 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:it could not but much redound to the lustre of your milde and equall Government, when as private persons are hereby animated to thinke ye better pleas'd with publick advice, then other statists have been delighted heretofore with publicke flattery.
• Bible, Ezekiel xviii. 29Are not my ways equal?
• SpenserThee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem.
4. (comparable) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.This test is pretty tough, but I think I'm equal to it.
• 1881, Jane Austen, Emma, p. 311her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.
• ClarendonThe Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English.
• DrydenIt is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit.
• Emerson... whose voice an equal messenger
  Conveyed thy meaning mild.
5. (obsolete) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.an equal movement
• Drydenan equal temper
6. (music) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.

Usage notes

Synonyms

• (the same in all respects) identical
• (exactly identical) equivalent, identical
• (unvarying) even, fair, uniform, unvarying

Verb

1. (mathematics) To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.Two plus two equals four.
2. To be equivalent to; to match
• 2004, Mary Levy and Jim Kelly, Marv Levy: Where Else Would You Rather Be?There was an even more remarkable attendance figure that underscores the devotion exhibited by our fans, because it was in 1991 that they set a single season in-stadium attendance record that has never been equaled.
3. (informal) To have as its consequence.Losing this deal equals losing your job.Might does not equal right.

Synonyms

• (to be equal to) be, is
• (informal, have as its consequence) entail, imply, lead to, mean, result in, spell

Noun

1. A person or thing of equal status to others.We're all equals here.This beer has no equal.
• AddisonThose who were once his equals envy and defame him.
2. (obsolete) State of being equal; equality.

Synonyms

• (person or thing of equal status to others) peer

Derived terms

• equally
• equalize/equalise
• unequal
• equal temperament

Related terms

• equality

Anagrams

• quale