noun
asymmetry
ay-SIM-uh-tree/ˌeɪˈsɪmətri/
Lack of balance or matching between opposing sides or parts.
The leaf's unequal lobes create noticeable asymmetry across its central vein.
Etymology
Measuring together gives the idea of parts sharing a common measure or proportion; the negative prefix denies that agreement. As symmetry came to include mirror correspondence, asymmetry also described the absence of that balance.
In context
typically peripheral vertigo is secondary to an asymmetry in the vestibular apparatus of your inner ear
More examples
- The architect used asymmetry to make the entrance more striking.
- Trade agreements can reflect asymmetries in economic power.
- The pattern's asymmetry becomes clear when it is folded in half.
Forms
asymmetry · asymmetries
asymmetric adjective — Having sides or parts that do not match.
Similar words
- imbalance
- Emphasizes unequal weight or influence rather than unmatched shapes.
- irregularity
- Can describe any departure from a pattern, not just unequal sides.