Unsymmetrical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not having balanced or proportionate arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or center point
2. Lacking uniformity or balance in the arrangement of elements when compared across a central axis or dividing line
3. Characterized by an absence of symmetry, resulting in dissimilar or unbalanced proportions on opposing sides

Etymology: "Unsymmetrical" is simply the English prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "symmetrical," which is itself a derivative of "symmetry." The root of "symmetry" is Greek "summetria," built from "sun-" ("together, with") and "metron" ("measure"), so the core idea is things measured together, matching in proportion. The Greek "summetria" passed into Latin as "symmetria," and the English "symmetry" came in through Latin and French routes, with the adjective "symmetrical" formed by adding the "-al" suffix, a combination of Latin "-alis" and the "-ic" ending seen in many English adjectives. "Symmetrical" carried the sense of balanced proportion between parts. Because "un-" is a native English prefix that was productive in Old English and Middle English, speakers could freely attach it to adjectives like "symmetrical" to express the opposite. "Unsymmetrical" therefore means "not evenly balanced," describing a shape, arrangement, or design whose parts do not correspond in size, position, or form.

Synonyms: asymmetrical, irregular

Antonyms: symmetrical, balanced