Symmetry
noun /ˈsɪm.ɪ.tri/ — Exact correspondence of form on either side of a dividing line.
Definition
The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. In nature, symmetry is a signal of health and fitness. In art and architecture, it creates a sense of order, balance, and classical beauty.
Beyond the definition
We are drawn to symmetry instinctively — it signals health, stability, order. A perfectly symmetrical face, a cathedral's balanced nave. Symmetry is the universe telling us everything is aligned.
Origin & history
Greek: 'symmetria' (due proportion). From 'syn' (together) + 'metron' (measure). A mathematical and aesthetic ideal since ancient Greece.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The Taj Mahal's symmetry is so perfect it seems impossible — every detail mirrored with inhuman precision.
There is a symmetry to good conversation: listening and speaking in equal measure.
The leaf's symmetry is functional, not decorative — each half capturing equal light.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Symmetry” when the meaning fits your context: The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. In nature, symmetry is a signal of health and fitness. In art and architecture, it creates a sense of order, balance, and classical beauty.
Synonyms
balance, proportion, correspondence, harmony
Antonyms
asymmetry, imbalance, irregularity
Related words
Symmetry vs balance
Symmetry is a strict mirror-image arrangement. Balance is a more fluid concept where different elements feel visually 'even' without needing to be identical.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Ordered and Balanced Structure
An adult arranges interlocking wooden pieces into a clear, balanced, ordered structure.
The symmetry of the final assembly is a signal of order. It creates a sense of stability and classical beauty, mirroring how symmetry is used in nature and design to suggest health, fitness, and logic.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Symmetry" mean?
Symmetry is noun meaning: Exact correspondence of form on either side of a dividing line.. The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. In nature, symmetry is a signal of health and fitness. In art and architecture, it creates a sense of order, balance, and classical beauty.
Where does the word "Symmetry" come from?
Greek: 'symmetria' (due proportion). From 'syn' (together) + 'metron' (measure). A mathematical and aesthetic ideal since ancient Greece.