unequal agreement

[/ˌʌnˈiːkwəl əˈɡriːmənt/]
nounpl: unequal agreements
acordo desigual
1. A contract or settlement where the terms or benefits are not equally distributed between parties, favoring one side over the other
The unequal agreement left the smaller company at a significant disadvantage in the partnership.
O acordo desigual deixou a empresa menor em desvantagem significativa na parceria.
2. A pact or understanding where one party has substantially more power, resources, or advantage than the other
Historians often cite the unequal agreement between the colonial powers and indigenous nations.
Historiadores frequentemente citam o acordo desigual entre as potências coloniais e as nações indígenas.
In Brazil, 'acordo desigual' is particularly relevant in discussions of historical treaties, labor disputes, and commercial negotiations. The concept is deeply embedded in Brazilian legal discourse and labor law, where protections exist to prevent citizens from entering such agreements. In the USA, the term is frequently used in historical contexts (e.g., treaties with Native Americans) and in modern critiques of international trade agreements and corporate contracts.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
lopsided agreementunfair agreementbiased agreementone-sided agreementasymmetrical agreement
Antonyms / Antônimos
equal agreementfair agreementbalanced agreementequitable agreementmutual agreement

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
acordo desigual
Standard usage in legal and business contexts
São Paulo
acordo desproporcional
Alternative term used in commercial and legal spheres
Portugal
acordo desigual / contrato desequilibrado
Both terms used; 'desequilibrado' emphasizes the imbalance
Rio de Janeiro
acordo desigual
Common in legal discussions and everyday speech

Related Words

contracttreatypactinequalitydisparityasymmetryimbalancenegotiation

Related Idioms & Phrases

to strike an unequal agreement
to enter into an unequal agreement
an unequal agreement is no agreement at all (legal principle)
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