asymmetry

noun

asym·​me·​try (ˌ)ā-ˈsi-mə-trē How to pronounce asymmetry (audio)
plural asymmetries
: lack or absence of symmetry
As Mercury orbits the Sun, it experiences a small torque due to its slight asymmetry in the plane of its orbit …Johanna Miller
French rococo was a part of this mood, which tended to favor pastel colors, asymmetry, a calculated disorder, a dreamy sensuality.Jonathan D. Spence
"Handedness"—whether we are left- or right-handed—is a convenient indicator of the development of the brain asymmetries that are thought to be required for language.Tim Flannery

Examples of asymmetry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When one judge can go much further, halting an entire federal policy nationwide, that creates an asymmetry. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 9 May 2025 This no-commitment dynamic thrives on emotional asymmetry. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 The result is a growing asymmetry: mounting disorder and weakening allies on one side and rising U.S. self-sufficiency and strike-from-a-distance capabilities on the other. Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2025 Cosmetic risks include asymmetry, visible scars, and ribs that revert back to their original position (mainly from improper corset use, experts say). Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for asymmetry

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of asymmetry was in 1651

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Cite this Entry

“Asymmetry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymmetry. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

asymmetry

noun
asym·​me·​try (ˈ)ā-ˈsim-ə-trē How to pronounce asymmetry (audio)
plural asymmetries
1
: lack or absence of symmetry: as
a
: lack of proportion between the parts of a thing
especially : want of bilateral symmetry
asymmetry in the development of the two sides of the brain
b
: lack of coordination of two parts acting in connection with one another
asymmetry of convergence of the eyes
2
: lack of symmetry in spatial arrangement of atoms and groups in a molecule

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