equity
equity — noun
1. the principle that everyone should receive fair treatment based on their individ
the principle that everyone should receive fair treatment based on their individual circumstances and needs, rather than identical treatment for all, so that no group is put at an unfair disadvantage.
The school board introduced policies to promote equity among students from different backgrounds.
collocation: promote equity / equity among [group]
Obi argued that true equity requires giving extra support to those who need it most.
Many companies now publish reports on pay equity to show fair wages across all levels.
Dr. Salma's clinic achieved healthcare equity by offering free check-ups to families who could not afford insurance.
The city's new housing plan aims to increase equity for low-income families in expensive areas.
- fairness
more everyday term; less precise in policy contexts but broadly equivalent
- justice
broader moral and legal scope; implies a system of rightness
- impartiality
emphasises lack of bias, rather than need-based distribution
- inequality
unequal distribution of resources or opportunities
- injustice
unfair treatment or outcomes
文法句型
equity + in + [context/field]
social equity
pay equity
racial equity
用法筆記
Common in discussions of social policy, education, workplace diversity, and public health. Equity differs from equality: equality gives everyone the same thing, while equity accounts for different starting points and needs.
常見錯誤
2. the portion of a company's total value that is split into units called shares, w
the portion of a company's total value that is split into units called shares, which people can buy to own part of the business and receive part of its profits.
Padma invested in company equity and received dividends every quarter.
collocation: company equity / equity in [company]
The startup offered equity to attract talented engineers without paying high salaries.
collocation: offer equity / equity to attract
After the merger, shareholders saw their equity grow by twenty percent.
Hui decided to sell her equity when the stock price reached its peak.
Hari bought equity in a solar energy firm on the Frankfurt exchange last spring.
- shares
refers to the individual units of ownership; more concrete and countable
- stock
common term in North America; can be uncountable ('the stock')
- ownership stake
emphasises the proportion of the company owned
- debt
money borrowed that must be repaid, as opposed to ownership capital
文法句型
equity + in + [company/organisation]
equity is uncountable when referring to value; 'equities' = stocks
用法筆記
Often used in investing and corporate finance contexts. The plural form 'equities' is a synonym for stocks or shares.
常見錯誤
3. the portion of a property's worth that the owner actually possesses, calculated
the portion of a property's worth that the owner actually possesses, calculated as the difference between its market value and any outstanding debt, such as a mortgage, still owed on it.
After ten years of mortgage payments, Brian had built significant equity in his house.
collocation: build up equity / equity in [house/property]
The bank approved a loan using the equity in Gabriela's home as collateral.
collocation: equity as collateral
When home values dropped in 2023, the Lim family saw their property equity shrink by thirty thousand dollars.
Inês and her husband used their home equity to pay their daughter's university fees.
Each month the Kimuras paid their mortgage, their equity in the Tokyo flat grew a little.
- ownership value
non-technical alternative emphasising what you truly own
- net value
focuses on the subtraction of debts from total worth
文法句型
equity + in + [property]
home equity
property equity
用法筆記
Frequently appears in mortgage, refinancing, and property investment contexts. Homeowners can borrow against their equity through 'equity loans' or 'equity release' schemes.
常見錯誤
4. a system of legal rules used in English-speaking countries that lets courts make
a system of legal rules used in English-speaking countries that lets courts make fair decisions when normal written laws would cause an unfair result.
The judge applied principles of equity to reach a fair outcome in the contract dispute.
collocation: principles of equity
In the 1400s, English equity courts handled land disputes that the common law could not resolve fairly.
Cyrus studied how equity provides legal remedies when standard rules would lead to hardship.
When a landlord broke a verbal promise about repairs, the court used equity to enforce the agreement.
A court of equity can order a property transfer when refusal would cause injustice.
- fairness doctrine
approximate description; less precise than 'equity' as a legal term
- natural justice
broader philosophical concept; related to but not identical with legal equity
- common law
the system of law based on precedent, which equity supplements
文法句型
court of equity
principles of equity
equity + law
用法筆記
A technical legal term referring specifically to the body of rules that originated in the English Court of Chancery. In modern legal systems, equity and common law are often administered by the same courts, but the principles of equity still apply when strict law would cause unfairness.