two-dimensional

American  

[too-di-men-shuh-nl, -dahy-] / ˈtu dɪˈmɛn ʃə nl, -daɪ- /

adjective

1. having the dimensions of height and width only.

   a two-dimensional surface.

2. (of a work of art) having its elements organized in terms of a flat surface, especially emphasizing the vertical and horizontal character of the picture plane.

   the two-dimensional structure of a painting.

3. (in a literary work) shallow, unconvincing, or superficial in execution.

   a novel having two-dimensional characters.

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two-dimensional British  

adjective

1. of, having, or relating to two dimensions, usually describable in terms of length and breadth or length and height

2. lying on a plane; having an area but not enclosing any volume

3. lacking in depth, as characters in a literary work

4. (of painting or drawing) lacking the characteristics of form or depth

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Other Word Forms

• two-dimensionality noun
• two-dimensionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of two-dimensional

First recorded in 1895–1900

Explanation

Two-dimensional things are flat — they can be measured in length and width, but they have no depth. Geometrical shapes like squares, circles, and polygons are all two-dimensional. A sheet of paper may seem to be two-dimensional, but because it does have a measurable (if tiny) depth, it's actually three-dimensional. Your dog is also three-dimensional, but a picture of him on your computer screen is two-dimensional. You can also use this mathematical adjective to mean "superficial," or "shallow." A bad guy in a movie might be described as a two-dimensional character, for example, since he seems to have "no depth."

Example Sentences

Like Mr. Drew’s paper-pulp works, they are a reminder that prints can be as innovative a medium as any other, and aren’t limited to the two-dimensional realm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The cameras measure balls and strikes from a two-dimensional plane set in the middle of home plate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

"Because of their stability and extremely small size, these vortices offer a new route to controlling magnetism at the nanoscale and provide insight into universal topological physics in two-dimensional systems."

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

She is enrolled in ART 120, a two-dimensional design course worth four college credits.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

In a two-dimensional universe, curved through a third dimension, there is no center—at least not on the surface of the sphere.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan