Parity Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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parity

[ˈpær.ɪ.ti ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

mathematics

The quality or condition of being equal or equivalent.

Synonyms

equality, equivalence, sameness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
parity

Used in contexts involving financial or technological comparisons, indicating equal levels or standings.

  • The company aimed to achieve wage parity between male and female employees.
  • The new software update brings feature parity with its rivals.
equality

Used in social and legal contexts, emphasizing fair treatment and opportunities for all individuals, often within discussions about rights and justice.

  • The protestors were demanding racial equality.
  • Gender equality is still a major topic in many workplaces.
equivalence

Often used in mathematical or scientific contexts, indicating that two quantities or entities are equal in value or function.

  • The equation demonstrates the equivalence of both sides.
  • There is an equivalence in the nutritional value of these food items.
sameness

Used in a more general sense to describe the state of being exactly alike, sometimes with a negative connotation if it implies monotony or lack of diversity.

  • The uniformity and sameness of the houses made the neighborhood look boring.
  • Critics have pointed out the sameness in the plots of his recent movies.

Examples of usage

  • Ensuring parity between the two sides of the equation is crucial.
  • The parity of the numbers must be taken into consideration.
Context #2 | Noun

politics

The state or condition of being equal, especially regarding pay or status.

Synonyms

balance, equality, equivalence.

Examples of usage

  • The company strives for gender parity in its workforce.
  • We need to address the issue of pay parity in our society.
Context #3 | Noun

electronics

A property of binary numbers indicating whether the total number of ones is even or odd.

Synonyms

binary property, evenness, oddness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
parity

Primarily used in mathematical or technical contexts to describe whether a number is even or odd. It can also refer to equality or state of being equal in broader contexts.

  • The parity of the number 14 is even.
  • Gender parity in the workplace is still a crucial issue.
evenness

Used to describe a number that is divisible by two. It is also used in a broad sense to describe smoothness or lack of variation.

  • The evenness of 8 is apparent as it can be divided by 2 with no remainder.
  • The evenness of the road made for a pleasant drive.
oddness

Used to describe a number that is not divisible by two. Colloquially, it can also describe something strange or unusual.

  • The oddness of 7 makes it impossible to divide by 2 without a remainder.
  • His oddness made him stand out in the crowd.
binary property

Typically used in computer science or mathematics to describe characteristics that have two states, such as even or odd, true or false.

  • In computer science, data is often characterized by its binary properties.
  • Parity, in mathematics, is a simple binary property.

Examples of usage

  • The parity bit is used for error detection in data transmission.
  • The system checks for parity errors before processing the input.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Mathematics

  • In mathematics, parity refers to whether a number is even or odd. Even numbers can be divided by 2 without a remainder.
  • Parity plays a key role in computer science, especially in error detection – systems use it to check if data is correct.
  • The concept of parity is essential in game theory, influencing strategies where players aim for balanced outcomes.

Economics

  • In economics, parity often relates to purchasing power, where currency values are equalized to determine fair exchange rates.
  • The law of one price suggests that identical goods should sell for the same price in different markets when considering parity.
  • Parity pricing is a strategy in financial markets that seeks to equalize the values of different assets for fairness.

Physics

  • In physics, parity refers to the symmetry of physical systems – objects can behave differently under certain transformations.
  • The concept of parity violation in particle physics shows that certain reactions do not conserve symmetry, leading to new understandings of the universe.
  • Parity transformations can help scientists describe interactions in a way that is easy to visualize, especially in quantum mechanics.

Sociology

  • In sociology, parity can describe social equality – when different groups have the same rights and opportunities in society.
  • The gender parity movement advocates for equal representation of women and men in various fields, promoting fairness.
  • Parity in education aims to ensure all students have access to the same quality resources and opportunities regardless of their background.

Technology

  • In software development, parity is important in ensuring that different systems or versions have equivalent functionality.
  • Redundancy systems often use parity bits to ensure data integrity in files, providing a way to recover if something goes wrong.
  • In telecommunications, parity checks are vital for error detection in data transmission, ensuring messages are sent clearly.

Origin of 'parity'

The word 'parity' originated from the Latin word 'paritas', meaning equality or sameness. It has been used in various fields such as mathematics, politics, and electronics to denote the concept of equality or equivalence. The term has evolved over time to encompass different aspects of balance and comparison, reflecting the importance of fairness and uniformity in diverse contexts.


Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,526 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.