equityeq·ui·ty /ˈekwəti/ noun (plural equities)1[uncountableU]FINANCE the capital that a company has from shares rather than from loansThe CEO has been moving toward the use of equity rather than debt.
The strong stock market will encourage more companies to use equity to finance acquisitions.
SAS will need to raise additional equity to complete the SKr20 billion of aircraft purchases it plans.
They plan to raise $100m by releasing at least 5% of equity in the company.
→ see also brand equity, external equity, return on equity → book equity → deferred equity → negative equity → owners' equity → private equity → shareholder equity → stockholder equity → stub equity → tier 1 equity2equities [plural]FINANCE trading in companies’ shares on a stockmarket, rather than trading on other types of marketinvestors seeking to place funds in equities
Milan equities finished mostly higher.
4[uncountableU]LAW the principle that a fair judgement must be made where the existing laws do not provide a clear answer in a particular caseThe courts have been willing to look at the settlement of arguments on the basis of equity rather than strict legal principle.