ongelijkwaardige

Ongelijkwaardige is an adjective in Dutch meaning "unequal" or "not equal in value, status, or quality." It is the attributive form of the compound adjective ongelijkwaardig and is used before a noun to indicate asymmetry in a relation, distribution, or assessment. The base form is ongelijkwaardig; in definite noun phrases or in plural, the form ongelijkwaardige appears, as in de ongelijkwaardige verhoudingen or de ongelijkwaardige kansen. In indefinite singular contexts the form is typically ongelijkwaardig (een ongelijkwaardig systeem).

Usage and context: The term is common in sociological, political, and legal language. It describes situations where power, resources, or opportunities are not distributed equally, or where treatment is biased or unequal. It can apply to interpersonal relations, organizational structures, or international relations. The term is neutral in itself but may carry evaluative nuance depending on context, and it is often used to critique or qualify processes and outcomes as unfair or unjust.

Etymology and related terms: It derives from ongelijk (not equal) combined with waardig (worthy), with the suffix -waardig forming a compound meaning "not equally worthy" in effect. Related Dutch terms include gelijkwaardig (equal/comparable) and ongelijkheid (inequality), as well as gelykwaardigheid in some contexts, though the common noun forms focus on equal or unequal status and treatment.

See also: gelijkwaardig, ongelijkheid, gelijkheid, verhoudingen, ongerechtvaardigd.