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

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

This asymmetry is often at the heart of conflicts around tech debt. —Ken Kao, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

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