parity
UK[ˈpærəti]US[ˈperəti]
n
The state of being equal, especially in status, pay, or rights.
n
The fact of having given birth to a specified number of children, used as a demographic indicator.
n
(Computing) A function whose being even (or odd) provides a check on data integrity.
Morpheme Breakdown
par
ity
par
equal
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'parity' entered English in the late 16th century from the Late Latin 'paritas', which itself derived from the Latin adjective 'par', meaning 'equal'. This Latin root is also the source of words like 'compare', 'pair', and 'peer'. The core concept of equality has been remarkably stable, extending from its original use in mathematics and logic to modern applications in social contexts (like pay parity), demographics, and computer science, where it denotes a state of equivalence or a method for ensuring data consistency.
Analysis
Structure: par (equal) + ity (noun suffix)
'par' originates from Latin 'par', meaning 'equal'. 'ity' is a noun-forming suffix from Latin '-itas', indicating a state or condition.
Examples
The new law aims to achieve pay parity between men and women.
The two currencies are now close to parity.
The system uses a parity bit to detect errors in the transmitted data.