equality

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

Identity in magnitude, etc.

Nouns

1. equality, parity, coextension; symmetry, balance, evenness, level, equivalence; balance of power, standoff; equipoise, equilibrium; par, quits; identity, similarity; equalization, equation, coordination, adjustment; peer pressure; Equal Rights Amendment, equal opportunity, affirmative action, women's or gay liberation. See symmetry, indifference, justice, copy.

2. (equal result) tie, draw, dead heat, deadlock, standoff, even match, impasse, photo finish; even break, fair shake.

3. match, peer, compeer, equal, mate, fellow, brother, equivalent, parallel, counterpart, colleague; peer group. Informal, ditto.

4. tit for tat; a Roland for an Oliver, an eye for an eye.

5. equalizer; equation; equator.

Verbs

1. equal, match, keep pace or up with, come up to, be on a level or par with, balance, measure up to, be equal to, having nothing on (someone), hold a candle or stick to.

2. make equal, equalize, equate, level, balance, trim, adjust, poise, fit, strike a balance, equilibrate, restore equilibrium, readjust; handicap; share and share alike; break even.

Adjectives

1. equal, even, level, coequal, symmetrical, coordinate; on a par with, abreast, coextensive; square, quits, fifty-fifty; up to the mark. Informal, even steven, neck-and-neck.

2. equivalent, tantamount; homologous, synonymous, analogous, similar, as broad as it is long, much the same, the same; equalized, drawn, neck-and-neck; half-and-half. Informal, quits; fifty-fifty.

Adverbs — equally, both, to the same degree, pari passu; to all intents and purposes, nip and tuck, abreast; on even footing, on equal terms; with the best; up to par, scratch, or snuff; all things being equal; from scratch.

Phrases — diamond cuts diamond; the pot calling the kettle black; do as you would be done by; do unto others as you would they should do unto you; all's fair in love and war.

Quotations — A man's a man for a' that (Robert Burns), There is no method by which men can be both free and equal (Walter Bagehot), All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others (George Orwell).

Antonyms, see inequality.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. balance, parity, uniformity, sameness, likeness, identity, equivalence, correspondence, parallelism, evenness, equalization, equation, equilibrium, symmetry, impartiality, fairness, fair play, justice, equitableness, equity, egalitarianism, brotherhood, civil rights, state of being equal, identical value, lack of distinction, equal opportunity, six of one and half a dozen of the other*, a fair shake*, level playing field*.

Ant. inequality, unfairness, disparity.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

parity, par, sameness, equivalence, likeness, evenness, balance, uniformity, fairness. ''The centre and circumference of all democracy.''—Herman Melville.

ANT.: inequality, disparity, unfairness, injustice

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun The state of being equivalent: equation, equivalence, equivalency, par, parity, sameness. See SAME.