# iniquity

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪnˈɪkwɪti/ · frequency rank #40,749

## Definitions
1. Deviation from what is right; gross injustice, sin, wickedness.
2. An act of great injustice or unfairness; a sinful or wicked act; an unconscionable deed.

## Etymology
From Middle English iniquite, jniquite (“evil, wickedness, iniquity; evil act; hostility, malevolence; hostile act; a calamity, misfortune”), from Old French iniquité (modern French iniquité (“iniquity”)), from Latin inīquitās (“iniquity; inequality, unfairness; inequity, injustice”), from inīquus (“unequal, uneven, unfair; disadvantageous, unfavourable; hostile, unkind; unsuitable; wicked, wrong”) + -itās (variant of -tās (suffix forming a noun indicating a state of being)). Inīquus is derived from in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + aequus (“equal; fair, impartial, just”). Piecewise doublet of inequity.

## Easily confused with
- **inquiry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/iniquity-vs-inquiry)
- **inequity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inequity-vs-iniquity)

## Common misspellings (11)
`iinquity`, `iniqiuty`, `iniqquity`, `iniquitty`, `iniquityy`, `iniquiyt`, `iniqutiy`, `iniuqity`, `inniquity`, `inqiuity`, `niiquity`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/iniquity