equity
gb/ˈɛkwɪti/ us/ˈɛkwɪti/
B2
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
Fair and just treatment
When everyone is treated in a fair and right way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] values equity in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'equity' with 'equality'. Equality means giving everyone the same thing, while equity means giving people what they need to have equal chances.
Synonyms
fairness (A more common everyday term for the same concept.)
|
justice (Often used in legal or moral contexts; stronger emphasis on law.)
Antonyms
inequity (Specifically means a lack of fairness.)
|
bias (Implies unfair preference or prejudice.)
Collocations
social equity
|equity and inclusion
|promote equity
|equity in education
|equity issues
Themes
society
|law
|ethics
|relationships
Examples
- The company is committed to ensuring equity in pay for all employees.
- Equity in education means giving every student the resources they need to succeed.
- Laws are designed to promote equity and protect citizens' rights.
Learner examples
- We want equity for all people.
- The teacher talks about equity in the classroom.
- Equity means treating people the same and fair.
Noun
technical
B2
quantity
2
Ownership value after debts
The part of a company or property that you own, after taking away any money you owe on it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has equity in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'equity' with 'equality' due to similarity in spelling and pronunciation. In finance, 'equity' is about ownership value, not fairness.
Synonyms
ownership (General term for having legal possession of something.)
|
stake (Informal term for ownership share, especially in business.)
Antonyms
debt (Money owed; opposite of net positive value.)
Collocations
home equity
|shareholder equity
|build equity
|equity stake
|private equity
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- After ten years of mortgage payments, they had built up considerable equity in their home.
- Shareholder equity represents the owners’ claim on the company's assets.
- She sold her equity in the startup for a large profit.
Learner examples
- I have some equity in my house.
- They want to build more equity in their business.
- He sold his equity in the company.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
Company shares representing ownership
Shares that show you own part of a company.
Usage pattern:
invest in equities
Synonyms
stocks (More common everyday term for company shares.)
Antonyms
bonds (Debt securities, not ownership shares.)
Collocations
equity markets
|equity investment
|public equities
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- Equities performed well this quarter despite market volatility.
- Many investors are shifting from bonds to equities.
- The fund focuses mainly on European equities.
Learner examples
- He wants to buy equities.
- Equities can go up or down in value.
- They invest in equities for growth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
equity
IPA
GB/ˈɛkwɪti/
US/ˈɛkwɪti/
Syllables & stress
equity (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (equity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: equity
- Plural: equities, equity
Word family
Expressions
equity stake
1/ˈɛkwɪti stˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
technical
Portion of ownership in a company
The part of a company that someone owns.
Examples
- She sold her equity stake in the business last year.
- They acquired a 20% equity stake in the new venture.
home equity loan
1/hˈoʊm ˈɛkwɪti lˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
technical
Loan against home ownership value
A loan that you get by using the part of your home you own as a guarantee to pay it back.
Examples
- They took out a home equity loan to renovate their kitchen.
- A home equity loan can be risky if property values drop.
private equity
1/pɹˈaɪvɪt ˈɛkwɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
Private investment in companies
Money from private investors used to buy and control companies, often to improve and sell them later.
Examples
- He works for a private equity firm specializing in tech startups.
- Private equity investments can be high risk but high reward.