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 In social psychology, that’s an attributional bias called the actor–observer asymmetry. Mary C. Murphy, Fortune Well, 15 Mar. 2024 This asymmetry is even more pronounced among marginalized communities. Michael Lucarelli, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The most ethical choice, given this asymmetry, is to avoid harm. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Matar’s writing is painfully alive to this asymmetry. James Wood, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 However, if the asymmetry persists beyond the typical settling period, or if there are signs of complications such as pain or significant discomfort, consult your surgeon. Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024 This approach facilitated organic growth, with creators playing a pivotal role in reactivating users and enhancing the game's liquidity in a marketplace rife with information asymmetry. David Moon (junseo Moon), Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 If the world comes to see today’s rivalries as slugfests devoid of larger moral meaning, the United States will lose the asymmetry of legitimacy that has served it well. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 There’s a huge asymmetry here—in part because there’s a lot of money to be made by creating fake stuff, but there’s not a lot of money to be made in detecting it. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asymmetry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of asymmetry was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near asymmetry

Cite this Entry

“Asymmetry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymmetry. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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