asynchronous
ay-SINK-ruh-nuss
/eɪˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/
Not occurring at the same time; a form of communication where participants send and receive messages independently without needing to be online simultaneously.
Used in modern workplace culture to contrast delayed messaging (such as Slack threads or emails) with live synchronous calls.
The story behind the word. Rooted in Greek words for time and negation, asynchronous originally described electronic signals transmitted without shared clock timing before becoming the defining concept of modern remote work etiquette.
Word relationships
- non-simultaneous: Generic description, whereas asynchronous is the standard term in computing and business.
- synchronous: Occurring at the exact same time.
Commonly confused with
- unsynchronized: Unsynchronized implies a failure to align, whereas asynchronous describes a intentional system design.
Word family
- asynchronously (adverb): In an asynchronous manner
Collocations
- asynchronous communication
- asynchronous learning
- asynchronous workflow
Example sentences
- "Our remote company relies on asynchronous communication so employees in different time zones can work effectively." Corporate Work Policy
Memory hook
A-SYNC = Away from SYNCing up at the same moment. Work on your own time, not live together.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical travel delays or slow internet speeds; it refers strictly to independent timing.
Fun facts
- In computer architecture, asynchronous chips operate without a master clock, running faster while consuming less power.
Explore more words
simultaneous, concurrent, asymmetric, contemporary, unison, unilateral
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