asymmetry
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of asymmetry
First recorded in 1645–55, asymmetry is from the Greek word asymmetría lack of proportion. See a- 6, symmetry
Explanation
Asymmetry exists when the two halves of something don't match or are unequal. The American flag is an example of asymmetry. If you understand symmetry, you're on your way to understanding asymmetry. Symmetry means that the parts of something are equal or match: if both halves of a house look exactly the same, that's an example of symmetry. If the sides are different, that's asymmetry. This concept can apply to relationships too. If one friend is taking advantage of the other, this is an asymmetrical relationship because it's not equal or fair. When you see the word asymmetry, think unequal or unbalanced.
Vocabulary lists containing asymmetry
Visual Arts - Introductory
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Visual Arts - High School
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Visual Arts - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Assuming it continues, that consolidation points to a rebuild in conviction that the asymmetry is toward rate cuts in the U.S., they say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
There is an asymmetry in market power between the landlord and the tenant.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
"When you see how young they were, you realise the asymmetry of the power there," Massie commented.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
In their study published in Optica, the team demonstrates that this twisted bilayer structure naturally introduces asymmetry between left and right, making it highly effective for controlling light chirality.
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026
Most of them involved an expert, or a gang of experts, promoting false information or hiding true information; in each case the experts were trying to keep the information asymmetry as asymmetrical as possible.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
