What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overrepresented
Example
The number of women in leadership positions is overrepresented in this company. [overrepresented: adjective]
Example
The study found that certain ethnic groups were overrepresented in the prison population. [overrepresented: past participle]
disproportionate
Example
The amount of time spent on administrative tasks is disproportionate to the amount of time spent on patient care. [disproportionate: adjective]
Example
The impact of climate change is disproportionately affecting low-income communities. [disproportionately: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disproportionate is more commonly used than overrepresented in everyday language. Disproportionate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overrepresented is less common and more specific in its usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between overrepresented and disproportionate?
Both overrepresented and disproportionate are formal words that are commonly used in academic and professional settings.
