parity
C1Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The state or condition of being equal, equivalent, or of the same value or rank.
1. A concept in computing relating to error detection, often a binary bit. 2. A principle in economics and finance referring to equality in currency exchange rates or purchasing power. 3. In physics, a property of a wave function indicating symmetry under inversion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core concept is equivalence, but domain-specific applications (finance, computing, physics, social policy) give it precise technical meanings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Meaning and usage are largely identical across dialects. 'Parity of esteem' is a slightly more common phrase in UK political/social discourse.
Connotations
Neutral/technical. Can have positive connotations in social contexts (e.g., gender parity, parity of esteem) implying fairness.
Frequency
Higher frequency in technical, financial, and academic registers than in everyday conversation in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
parity with [NOUN]parity between [NOUN] and [NOUN]parity in [NOUN]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Parity of esteem”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The new contract aims for pay parity across all regional offices."
Academic
"The study examines parity violation in subatomic particles."
Everyday
"There's still a long way to go to achieve parity between men and women in leadership roles."
Technical
"A parity error was detected in the data stream, forcing a resend."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The system does not parity the data; it only adds a parity bit.
- The government pledged to parity pensions with inflation.
American English
- The software will parity the memory blocks for error checking.
- The union seeks to parity wages with the industry standard.
adverb
British English
- The currencies traded parity for a brief period.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- The teams were matched parity in the final standings.
- (Rare usage)
adjective
British English
- A parity check is run on all incoming data.
- They are seeking parity payments for farmers.
American English
- The parity bit was incorrectly set.
- Parity laws ensure equal coverage for mental health.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The two teams are at parity with the same number of wins.
- Women fought for parity in pay.
- The central bank intervened to maintain currency parity.
- Achieving parity in educational resources remains a key challenge.
- Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a more accurate measure of living standards than exchange rates.
- The quantum state exhibits odd parity under spatial inversion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PAIR-ity. It's about things being in a pair, meaning equal or matched.
Conceptual Metaphor
EQUIVALENCE IS BALANCE (e.g., 'the scales are in parity'), STATUS IS HEIGHT (e.g., 'reaching parity with' a competitor).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'паритет' in purely military 'nuclear parity' context; English 'parity' is broader. Do not translate as 'равенство' in computing contexts ('parity bit' is 'бит чётности').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'parity' to mean 'similarity in appearance' (use 'similarity' or 'resemblance'). Incorrect preposition: 'parity to' (correct: 'parity with').
Practice
Quiz
In computing, a 'parity bit' is primarily used for:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Parity' often implies a measurable or formal equivalence (e.g., in status, value, or rights), while 'equality' is broader and can be more abstract.
Yes, but it is rare and highly technical, primarily used in computing contexts (e.g., 'to parity data') or in policy ('to parity benefits'). The noun form is vastly more common.
PPP is an economic theory that compares different countries' currencies through a 'basket of goods' approach. It states that exchange rates should equalize the price of an identical basket of goods and services in any two countries.
The most direct opposite is 'gender disparity' or 'gender inequality'.
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