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Equality vs Equivalent - What's the difference?

equality | equivalent |

As nouns the difference between equality and equivalent

is that equality is the fact of being equal while equivalent is anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.

As an adjective equivalent is

similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.

As a verb equivalent is

to make equivalent to; to equal.

equality

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Noun

  • (uncountable) The fact of being equal.
  • (uncountable, mathematics) The fact of being equal, of having the same value.
  • (uncountable) The equal treatment of people irrespective of social or cultural differences.

    • Synonyms

    * (fact of being equal ): equivalence parity,

    Antonyms

    * (fact of being equal ): difference, inequality * (equal treatment of people ): discrimination, inequality nonequivilence

    equivalent

    English

    (wikipedia equivalent)

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.
  • * South
    • For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent .
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=(Henry Petroski) , title=Opening Doors , volume=100, issue=2, page=112-3 , magazine= citation , passage=A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.}}
  • (mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence; equinumerous.
  • * Comprehensive MCQ's in Mathematics , page 3:
    • Finite sets A and B are equivalent sets only when n''(A) = ''n''(B) ''i.e. , the number of elements in A and B are equal.
  • * 1950 , E. Kamke, Theory of Sets , page 16:
    • All enumerable sets are equivalent to each other, but not to any finite set.
  • * 2000 , N. L. Carothers, Real Analysis , page 18:
    • Equivalent' sets should, by rights, have the same "number" of elements. For this reason we sometimes say that '''equivalent sets have the same ''cardinality .
  • * 2006 , Joseph Breuer, Introduction to the Theory of Sets , page 41:
    • The equivalence theorem: If both M is equivalent''' to a subset N1 of N and N is '''equivalent''' to a subset M1 of M, then the sets M and N are '''equivalent to each other.
  • (mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.
  • (chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.
  • (cartography) Of a map, equal-area.
  • (geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.
    • A square may be equivalent to a triangle.

    Usage notes

    * (en-usage-equal)

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.
  • * Macaulay
    • He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent .
  • (chemistry) An equivalent weight.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make equivalent to; to equal.
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