Equal Roughly ˈiːkwəl I Put Rights Adjective Number

• there is an equal number of boys and girls in the class.
• each side will put in an equal amount of money.
• cut it into four equal parts.
• the two countries are roughly equal in size.

equal

1. the same in size, quantity, value, etc. as something else
• There is an equal number of boys and girls in the class.
• Each side will put in an equal amount of money.
• Cut it into four equal parts.
• The two countries are roughly equal in size.
• One unit of alcohol is equal to half a pint of beer.
• An area of forest equal to the size of Wales has been destroyed.
• legislation to put Gaelic on an equal footing with English
• The decision has attracted both praise and criticism in equal measure (= to the same degree).

Extra Examples

• Fitness is important in sport, but of at least equal importance are skills.
• One pound is roughly equal to two dollars.
• The EU nations together have an economy about equal in size to that of the US.
• The two books are more or less equal in length.
• Their test results were equal in every way.
• Three feet is roughly equal to one metre.
• We moved some of the better players to make the two sides equal.
• Don't you think that both views have equal validity?
• Mix the colours in equal amounts.
• The company employs men and women in roughly equal proportions.
• The ideal would be an equal distribution of wealth between people of different age groups.
• The loan is repaid in equal annual instalments.
2. having the same rights or being treated the same as other people, without differences such as race, religion or sex being considered
• I believe everyone is born equal.
• a society where women and men are equal partners
3. giving people the same rights and opportunities, without differences such as race, religion or sex being considered
• equal rights/pay
• The company has an equal opportunities policy (= gives the same chances of employment to everyone).
• the desire for a more equal society (= in which everyone has the same rights and chances)
• The US constitution guarantees equal protection under the law.
• The charity's mission is to help provide equal access to education.
• the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination
4. having the necessary strength, courage and ability to deal with something successfully
• I hope that he proves equal to the challenge.

Extra Examples

• I felt more than equal to the task.
• I felt that nothing could make me equal to the demands being made of me.
5. if the conditions stay the same; if other conditions are the same
• All things being equal, we should finish the job tomorrow.
• All other things being equal, the bigger fighter should win.
6. having the same advantages and disadvantages as somebody else
• Can our industry compete on equal terms with its overseas rivals?
7. although the members of a society, group, etc. appear to be equal, some, in fact, get better treatment than others

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Latin aequalis, from aequus ‘even, level, equal’.