onevenredige

Onevenredige is a Dutch adjective meaning not proportional or out of proportion. It describes quantities, effects, or distributions that do not correspond to an expected or fair ratio, implying an imbalance or disproportionate relationship. The term is often used to characterize situations where outcomes deviate from what would be considered proportional given a reference standard.

Etymology and grammar: the word derives from evenredig, meaning proportional, with the negating prefix one-. The form onevenredige is the attributive feminine singular or common-gender form used before a noun (for example, een onevenredige hoeveelheid). The adverbial form is onevenredig, as in onevenredig veel.

Usage and examples: onevenredige is common in statistics, economics, policy analysis, law, and sociology. Examples include een onevenredige verdeling van middelen (a disproportionate distribution of resources) or een onevenredige vertegenwoordiging in adviesraden (a disproportionate representation on advisory boards). Descriptions may carry a normative nuance, suggesting unfairness or unjustified imbalance, especially in discussions of equality, rights, or access to opportunities.

See also: disproportioneel, onevenwichtig, ongelijke. While closely related, disproportioneel is a direct loanword from the same idea, often used in more technical or formal contexts, whereas onevenredig stresses the deviation from a proportion rather than a strict mathematical proportionality.