disproportion

English

Etymology

dis- +‎ proportion

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɪspɹəˈpɔːʃən/

Noun

disproportion (countable and uncountable, plural disproportions)

1. The state of being out of proportion; an abnormal or improper ratio; an imbalance.
   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XIII, p. 208, [1]

     […] a handsome creature, remarkably so, with features so symmetrical […] that a micrometer gauge could scarcely find a disproportion in her smooth and broad mahogany-coloured face.

   the disproportion of the length of a building to its height

2. Lack of suitableness, adequacy, or due proportion to an end or use; unsuitableness.

   the disproportion of strength or means to an object

Derived terms

• cephalopelvic disproportion

Translations

the state of being out of proportion

• Catalan: desproporció (ca) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: desproporción (es) f

Verb

disproportion (third-person singular simple present disproportions, present participle disproportioning, simple past and past participle disproportioned)

1. (transitive) To make unsuitable in quantity, form, or fitness; to violate symmetry in; to mismatch.
   • Shakespeare

     To shape my legs of an unequal size; / To disproportion me in every part.

   • Prescott

     a degree of strength altogether disproportioned to the extent of its territory