równoprawny

Równoprawny is an adjective in Polish that describes a person, group, or status that enjoys the same rights and obligations as another, or that holds an equal legal or social footing. It is often used in legal, administrative, and sociopolitical contexts to emphasize parity in treatment, position, or entitlement.

Etymology and sense: the word is formed from równy (equal) and prawny (legal, relating to law). Literally, it conveys “equal in rights” or “on an equal footing in law.” The term can refer to individuals, parties in a dispute, or groups that should be treated without privilege or discrimination.

Usage and contexts: in legal proceedings, one may encounter phrases such as “strony są równoprawne” to indicate that no party has preferential status. In discussions of civil rights, “równoprawny status” or “równoprawne obywatelstwo” may be used to argue for equal treatment under the law. The expression also appears in organizational or political discourse, for example in describing partnerships or roles that are intended to be on an equal footing.

Różnica w stosowaniu z równouprawnieniem: both równoprawny and równouprawniony convey equality of rights, but równoprawny tends to appear in more technical or legal contexts to stress the equal footing in law or status, while równouprawniony and related nouns (równouprawnienie, równouprawnienie) are common in broader discussions of equal rights, including gender equality and civil rights.

Related terms: równouprawnienie, równoczesny, równy.