uneven

[uhn-ee-vuhn]

adjective

1. not level or flat; rough; rugged.

   The wheels bumped and jolted over the uneven surface.

2. irregular; varying; not uniform.

   The book is uneven in quality.

3. not equitable or fair; one-sided.

   an uneven contest.

   Synonyms: lopsided, unequal, unfair

4. not equally balanced; not symmetrical or parallel.

5. (of a number) odd; not divisible into two equal integers.

   The numerals 3, 5, and 7 are uneven.

uneven

/ ʌnˈiːvən /

adjective

1. (of a surface, etc) not level or flat

2. spasmodic or variable

3. not parallel, straight, or horizontal

4. not fairly matched

   an uneven race

5. archaic,  not equal

6. obsolete,  unjust

Other Word Forms

• unevenly adverb
• unevenness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uneven¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English unefen; cognate with German uneben. See un- ¹, even ¹

Example Sentences

The Lakers finished an uneven road trip on a high note with consecutive wins at New Orleans and Milwaukee, salvaging a 3-2 record on the trip after a 119-95 win over the Bucks on Saturday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hiring had moderated, wage gains were uneven, and the postpandemic excess demand for workers was ebbing.

Read more on Barron's

The Lions’ offense is balanced and creative under a new play-caller, while the Eagles’ offense remains uneven.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Other schools didn’t follow suit, creating uneven comparisons for graduates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On the other hand, there are ongoing disruption risks, uneven OPEC+ compliance and refined product tightness, Hansen adds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bumpy 
• irregular 
• odd 
• patchy 
• rough 
• spotty 
• unbalanced 
• unequal 
• unsteady