égalitaire

Égalitaire is a French adjective used to describe beliefs, policies or social arrangements that aim to promote equality among people. It is commonly employed in political and philosophical discourse to denote an orientation toward reducing disparities in wealth, status, or opportunity, or toward ensuring equal treatment before the law.

Etymology: from égalité (equality) with the -aire suffix. The related noun is égalitarisme (egalitarianism). The term is used to express a normative stance rather than a fixed institution.

Usage and nuance: In practice, égalitaire can describe laws, institutions or practices intended to be impartial or to produce broader opportunity or more equal outcomes. The connotations vary by country and context; in some debates it signals ambitious redistribution, while in others it denotes fair rather than perfect equality.

In English-language discussion, the closest analogue is egalitarian or egalitarianism, though the French term often emphasizes social equality and policy design. Related concepts include égalité, égalitarisme, and debates between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.