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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Or perhaps there really is just something essentially wrong with the design, an insurmountable lack of visual harmony, asymmetry without an underlying logic. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024 That batch of pipes performed seven times better on flow asymmetry than any prior measurements of Tesla valves. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2024 Of course, there are risks of complications with fat injection, too, including asymmetry or lumpiness. Taryn Brooke, Allure, 24 Oct. 2024 The asymmetry of the soft green branches gives it an organic, natural look. Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near asymmetry

Cite this Entry

“Asymmetry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymmetry. Accessed 30 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on asymmetry

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