two-dimensional

adjective

two-di·​men·​sion·​al ˈtü-də-ˈmench-nəl 

 also  -dī-,

-ˈmen(t)-shə-nᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or having two dimensions

The most symmetric of the two-dimensional objects is the circle, because you can rotate it any amount and reflect it over any axis through its center, and it remains exactly the same …

—Tamara M. Davis

… consider a piece of paper, a two-dimensional object. Crumple the paper up. The more tightly it's compressed, the more chaotic are its folds, and the closer the two-dimensional surface moves to becoming a three-dimensional solid.

—John Briggs and F. David Peat

2

: lacking the illusion of depth : not three-dimensional

His violent, nakedly two-dimensional art can be difficult to capture in photographs, depending as it does in great measure on knotty textures and eccentric color schemes for effect.

—Publishers Weekly

3

: lacking depth of characterization

two-dimensional characters

two-dimensionality

ˈtü-də-ˌmen(t)-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

 also  -dī-

noun

plural two-dimensionalities

two-dimensionally adverb

This guide … covers thoroughly and in-depth the process of representing the human form two-dimensionally on paper.

—Heather Halliday

Examples of two-dimensional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An image became an array of numbers, a two-dimensional grid that represented the brightness of the sky at each pixel. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 June 2024

But either way, the investigators saw significance in the ability of the animals to make the leap that a two-dimensional image was effectively equivalent to a three-dimensional person. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024

Whereas Soleimani had a certain swagger, Gerasimov and Zhang appear as somewhat two-dimensional characters: competent, professional, and loyal to their countries’ presidents. —Seth Jones, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021

The family of two-dimensional pink pigs with protruding snouts, dressed in colorful clothes and speaking in English accents, has gone from a humble British TV show to a global staple in households with young children. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune Europe, 1 June 2024

Likewise, fights take place on a two-dimensional stage and the positions of Mario, his partner, and his enemies greatly influence who can and will be targeted for attacks. —PCMAG, 21 May 2024

Say, for instance, that the Gaussian curvature is positive at every point on a two-dimensional manifold. —Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 14 May 2024

Submissions of homemade sculptures and two-dimensional art using or resembling PEEPs will be accepted until March 1. —Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2024

There’s only so much drama to be wrung from two-dimensional representations of villains. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

two-dimensional

adjective

: of, relating to, or having two dimensions (as length and width)