asymmetric
ay-suh-MET-rik
/ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtrɪk/
Having parts or aspects that are not equal or equivalent; unequal.
In military contexts, 'asymmetric warfare' refers to conflict between opponents of vastly different power, resources, or tactics (e.g., a professional army vs. guerrilla fighters).
The story behind the word. The word originally belonged to geometry and art, describing shapes that lacked balanced proportions. In the late 20th century, Cold War strategists adopted it to describe conflicts where the two sides did not 'measure up' equally in resources, forcing the weaker side to use unconventional tactics.
Word relationships
- unbalanced: Unbalanced implies instability or a flaw, whereas asymmetric simply describes a lack of symmetry or equality in structure or power.
- disproportionate: Disproportionate means out of proportion in size or scale, while asymmetric emphasizes a difference in kind, methods, or structure.
- symmetric: Symmetric means having perfectly balanced, identical, or equivalent parts on both sides.
Commonly confused with
- unilateral: Unilateral means an action taken by only one side, while asymmetric refers to an unequal relationship or style of conflict between two sides.
Word family
- asymmetry (noun): Lack of equivalence or balance between parts or aspects.
Collocations
- asymmetric warfare
- asymmetric threat
- asymmetric information
- asymmetric relationship
Example sentences
- "The conflict was highly asymmetric, pitting a high-tech military force against a decentralized network of local insurgents." A modern military analysis.
- "The architect designed an asymmetric building with one wing much taller than the other." Design and aesthetics.
Memory hook
Think of 'A-symmetric' as 'Against-symmetry'—the two sides of the scale do not match at all. Asymmetric means 'A' (not) 'symmetric' (balanced)—an uneven fight.
When not to use
Do not use when describing a conventional conflict between two evenly matched, traditional armies.
Fun facts
- In economics, 'asymmetric information' refers to a transaction where one party has much more or better information than the other, such as a used-car salesman and a buyer.
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