symmetry

American  

[sim-i-tree] / ˈsɪm ɪ tri /

noun

• symmetries
  plural

1. the correspondence in size, form, and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a plane, line, or point; regularity of form or arrangement in terms of like, reciprocal, or corresponding parts.

   Synonyms:

   correspondence, concord, consonance

   Antonyms:

   asymmetry

2. the proper or due proportion of the parts of a body or whole to one another with regard to size and form; excellence of proportion.

3. beauty based on or characterized by such excellence of proportion.

4. Mathematics.

   1. a geometrical or other regularity that is possessed by a mathematical object and is characterized by the operations that leave the object invariant.

      A circle has rotational symmetry and reflection symmetry.

   2. a rotation or translation of a plane figure that leaves the figure unchanged although its position may be altered.

5. Physics. a property of a physical system that is unaffected by certain mathematical transformations as, for example, the work done by gravity on an object, which is not affected by any change in the position from which the potential energy of the object is measured.

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symmetry British  

/ ˈsɪmɪtrɪ /

noun

1. similarity, correspondence, or balance among systems or parts of a system

2. maths an exact correspondence in position or form about a given point, line, or plane See symmetrical

3. beauty or harmony of form based on a proportionate arrangement of parts

4. physics the independence of a property with respect to direction; isotropy

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symmetry Scientific  

/ sĭm′ĭ-trē /

1. An exact matching of form and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a boundary, such as a plane or line, or around a central point or axis.

2. See invariance

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symmetry Cultural  

1. In geometry, the equivalence, point for point, of a figure on opposite sides of a point, line, or plane.

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Synonym Usage

Symmetry, balance, proportion, harmony are terms used, particularly in the arts, to denote qualities based upon a correspondence or agreement, usually pleasing, among the parts of a whole. Symmetry implies either a quantitative equality of parts ( the perfect symmetry of pairs of matched columns ) or a unified system of subordinate parts: the symmetry of a well-ordered musical composition. Balance implies equality of parts, often as a means of emphasis: Balance in sentences may emphasize the contrast in ideas. Proportion depends less upon equality of parts than upon that agreement among them that is determined by their relation to a whole: The dimensions of the room gave a feeling of right proportion. Harmony, a technical term in music, may also suggest the pleasing quality that arises from a just ordering of parts in other forms of artistic composition: harmony of line, color, mass, phrase, ideas.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsymmetry
  noun
• antisymmetry
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• symmetries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of symmetry

1535–45; from Latin symmetria from Greek symmetría “commensurateness.” See sym-, -metry

Explanation

Things that have symmetry are balanced, with each side reflecting the other. A human body has such complex symmetry, from eyes, ears, and nostrils to arms, legs, and feet, that even a minor injury can make a body look unbalanced. Snowflakes and butterflies often have a remarkable natural symmetry, with patterns on one side matched by those on the other. Objects that have identical or very similar parts lying at equal distances from a central point or line or plane — that is, objects that have symmetry — often work better. Symmetry helps boats stay upright in water. In design, symmetry is a balancing of objects, as when two candlesticks on a fireplace mantel are at equal distances from the center of the mantel. A lack of symmetry — i.e., asymmetry — might mean putting both candlesticks together at one end of the mantel.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

symmetry symmetries

There is symmetry to the tale of the Nobel family in Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

The researchers found a straightforward way to reduce the system's symmetry.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2026

In one way, the symmetry is a mere coincidence, but it feels so much more.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

Speeches: One possibility is for Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed members to adopt more symmetry when they talk about the rate outlook.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

I replied that there was this flaw about the bubbles being bigger than the universe, but that the basic idea of a slow breaking of symmetry was very good.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

A closer look reveals ingenious contrasts, apparent symmetries dissolving into distinctive details.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Taking these symmetries seriously leads to a different interpretation of the Einstein–Rosen bridge.

From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026

One world is ending, and a new one is just about to begin; “Amrum” is full of such satisfying symmetries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

As its winking title suggests, director Trương Minh Quý’s “Việt and Nam” is constructed out of neat symmetries and thorny juxtapositions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2025

Here again the English language is mathematically elegant and provides the writer with a neat group of symmetries.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• equilibrium
• harmony
• rhythm
• similarity