English Explanatory Dictionary

equity

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Fairness, impartiality, or justice as determined in light of "natural law" or "natural right".
  2. Various related senses originating with the Court of Chancery in late Medieval England
  3. The power of a court of law having extra-statutory discretion, to decide legal matters and to provide legal relief apart from, though not in violation of, the prevailing legal code; in some cases, a court "sitting in equity" may provide relief to a complainant should the code be found either inapplicable or insufficient to do so.
  4. A right which accrues to a party in a transaction because of the nature of the transaction itself, and which is exercisable upon a change of circumstances or conditions; in other words, an equitable claim.
  5. The body of law which was developed in the English Court of Chancery, which Court had extra-statutory discretion, and is now administered alongside the common law of Britain.
  6. Various senses related to net value
  7. Value of property minus liens or other encumbrances.
  8. Ownership, especially in terms of net monetary value of some business.
  9. Ownership interest in a company as determined by subtracting liabilities from assets.
  10. A player's expected share of the pot.
  11. Equality

Pronunciation

/ˈɛk.wɪ.ti/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-equity.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-equity.wav /i.kwɪʈ.i/

Word forms

equity equities æquity equitie

Etymology

From Middle English equitee, equytee, from Old French equité, from Latin aequitās (“uniformity; impartiality; fairness”).

Antonyms

inequity iniquity

Related words

equitable

Derived words

brand equity court of equity dequity equitize equity collar equity court equity fund equity language equitylike equity of redemption equity share fold equity guaranteed equity bond home equity jury equity negative equity non-equity nonequity owner's equity ownership equity private equity sweat equity unequity
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