asymmetry

noun

asym·​me·​try (ˌ)ā-ˈsi-mə-trē 

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

Researchers believe the extreme asymmetry may be linked to the galaxy's motion through a dense galaxy cluster. — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 June 2026

Our research on lower-middle-market transactions finds that 73% include at least one post-LOI price adjustment, averaging roughly 18% of enterprise value, driven by information asymmetry rather than market conditions. — Ron Smith, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

The asymmetry—Anthropic penalized while OpenAI was not—is what troubles him most. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026

My breathing has improved dramatically, and my nose’s asymmetry has been corrected. — Victoria Oliva, Allure, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for asymmetry

• altimetry
• dosimetry
• calorimetry
• colorimetry
• supersymmetry
• symmetry

Medical Definition

asymmetry

noun

asym·​me·​try (ˈ)ā-ˈsim-ə-trē 

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