equitable

Marked by or having equity.

Adjective

  1. Marked by or having equity.
  2. Fair, just, or impartial.
    • I may justly require you to produce that argument; nor have you any pretence to refuse so equitable a demand. - 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral,...
    • Security can be obtained but by defined rights, and these can be ensured only by equitable laws. - 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […],...

    Synonyms: disinterested unbiased candid cold clinical detached egal equal equitable evenhanded fairhanded fair-minded dispassionate impartial imprejudicate indifferent indistinguishing neuter neutral nonaligned nonpartial nonpartisan nonpersonal objective

    Antonyms: inequitable

  3. Relating to the general principles of justice that correct or supplement the provisions of the law; relating to equity or courts of equity.

    Coordinate Terms: legal

Origin

From French équitable, from Old French, from equité (“equity”).

Forms

more equitable most equitable æquitable

Related

equity equitabilis

Derived

equitableness equitable tolling equitably inequitable unequitable