égal

Égal is a French adjective meaning equal, the same in amount, value, status, or degree. It agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies: égal (masc. sg.), égale (fem. sg.), égaux (masc. pl.), égales (fem. pl.). It appears in common phrases such as égal à (equal to), à égalité avec (on equal footing with), and in expressions like égalité des chances (equal opportunity). The related noun is égalité, referring to the concept of equality.

Etymologically, égal comes from Latin aequalis, from aequus meaning even or level, passing into Old French and then modern French. The word has long been used to describe sameness or parity across various domains, including law, society, and mathematics.

In mathematics and logic, égal denotes equality between two expressions and is represented by the equals sign (=). The symbol was popularized in Europe in the 16th century, with early uses attributed to the English mathematician Robert Recorde in The Whetstone of Witte (1557). Beyond pure math, égal appears in everyday language to express parity or equivalence, and in technical terms such as l’égalité in proofs or formulas.

In broader usage, the related concept égalité denotes equality as a social or political principle, often invoked in discussions of rights, opportunities, and justice. The adjective égal also features in phrases describing comparative standings, such as being treated as equal or achieving parity with others.