two-dimensional

adjective

two-di·​men·​sion·​al ˈtü-də-ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)nəl 

 also  -dī-

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

Researchers there made two-dimensional sheets out of X-shaped monomers, which are the building blocks of polymers. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025

How can companies look past the two-dimensional résumé? —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

That means two-dimensional patterns, collared button-down shirts, jackets, trousers, tailoring, that type of thing. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025

Cory Dean and his group at Columbia University spotted a flicker of superconductivity in a two-dimensional TMD material in 2020. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025

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)