Equity

UK: /ˈɛkwɪti/ US: /ˈɛkwɪti/ ,(ek′wi tē)

Inflections of 'equity' (n): npl: equities

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Equity / ˈɛkwɪtɪ/ noun

1. the actors' trade union

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

eq•ui•ty /ˈɛkwɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. [uncountable] the quality of being fair or impartial;
   fairness.
2. Business, Law the monetary value of a property or business beyond any amounts that are owed on it:
   [uncountable] The landlord has more than $35,000 equity in that building.
   [countable] Since they paid off their mortgage, they now have an equity equal to the value of the house.

See -equa-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

eq•ui•ty  (ek′wi tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. the quality of being fair or impartial;
   fairness;
   impartiality:
   the equity of Solomon.
2. something that is fair and just.
3. Law
   • the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies.
   • a system of jurisprudence or a body of doctrines and rules developed in England and followed in the U.S., serving to supplement and remedy the limitations and the inflexibility of the common law.
   • an equitable right or claim.
   • an equity of redemption.
4. Business, Law the monetary value of a property or business beyond any amounts owed on it in mortgages, claims, liens, etc.
5. Informal Terms ownership, esp. when considered as the right to share in future profits or appreciation in value.
6. Business the interest of the owner of common stock in a corporation.
7. Business (in a margin account) the excess of the market value of the securities over any indebtedness.
8. Show Business (cap.) See Actors' Equity Association. 

• Latin aequitās. See equi-, -ty²
• Middle English equite 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

equity / ˈɛkwɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the quality of being impartial or reasonable; fairness
2. an impartial or fair act, decision, etc
3. a system of jurisprudence founded on principles of natural justice and fair conduct. It supplements the common law and mitigates its inflexibility, as by providing a remedy where none exists at law
4. an equitable right or claim
5. the interest of ordinary shareholders in a company
6. the market value of a debtor's property in excess of all debts to which it is liable

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French equite, from Latin aequitās, from aequus level, equal