asymmetry

/eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/

//eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"asymmetry" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“asymmetry” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #33,520 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#33,520
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An absence of symmetry or proportion between the parts of a thing, or a distinction that produces such a lack of symmetry.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

asymmetry vs asymmetric
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for asymmetry
PropertyValue
Headwordasymmetry
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/
Letters9
Frequency rank#33,520
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “asymmetry” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). asymmetry lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for asymmetry is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/. Corpus data places it at rank #33,520 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for asymmetry, with forms such as "asmymetry", "assymmetry", and "asymemtry". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "asymmetric", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Ancient Greek ἀσυμμετρία (asummetría), from ἀσύμμετρος (asúmmetros) + -ία (-ía), from ἀ- (a-) + σύμμετρος (súmmetros); equivalent to a- + symmetry. The correct English form is asymmetry, spelled A-S-Y-M-M-E-T-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    An absence of symmetry or proportion between the parts of a thing, or a distinction that produces such a lack of symmetry.
  2. 2
    The lack of a common measure between two objects or quantities; incommensurability.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀσυμμετρία (asummetría), from ἀσύμμετρος (asúmmetros) + -ία (-ía), from ἀ- (a-) + σύμμετρος (súmmetros); equivalent to a- + symmetry.

This word in other languages

asimetría(Español)asymétrie(Français)assimetria(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: asmymetry,assymmetry,asymemtry,asymetry,asymmerty,asymmetrry,asymmetryy,asymmettry,asymmetyr,asymmtery,asyymmetry,aysmmetry,saymmetry

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of asymmetry - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

asmymetry2assymmetry1asymemtry2asymetry1asymmerty2asymmetrry1asymmetryy1asymmettry1
Edit distance from "asymmetry"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "asymmetry"?
"asymmetry" is spelled A-S-Y-M-M-E-T-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/.
What does "asymmetry" mean?
As a noun, "asymmetry" means: An absence of symmetry or proportion between the parts of a thing, or a distinction that produces such a lack of symmetry.
What words are commonly confused with "asymmetry"?
"asymmetry" is commonly confused with "asymmetric". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "asymmetry"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "asymmetry" is /eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "asymmetry"?
From Ancient Greek ἀσυμμετρία (asummetría), from ἀσύμμετρος (asúmmetros) + -ία (-ía), from ἀ- (a-) + σύμμετρος (súmmetros); equivalent to a- + symmetry. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “asymmetry”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-S-Y-M-M-E-T-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “asymmetric” - see the side-by-side comparison. asymmetry vs asymmetric
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list