# symmetrical

/səˈmɛtɹɪkəɫ/ (US) · /sɪmˈɛtɹɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/symmetrical
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

having two halves that are exactly the same in shape and size. You use this to describe things that look balanced and even on both sides.

For teachers: having parts that correspond to one another in size, shape, and position. Often used to describe geometric figures, biological structures, or aesthetic compositions.

## Examples

- The butterfly has beautiful symmetrical wings.
- The architect designed a symmetrical facade for the museum, with identical columns on either side of the main entrance.
- In classical portraiture, a perfectly symmetrical face is often used to represent ideal beauty, though slight natural imbalances can often make a subject appear more approachable and human.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The building is more symmetrical than that one." but "The building is more nearly symmetrical than that one." — While common in casual speech, 'symmetrical' is often treated as a non-gradable adjective in technical contexts; something is either symmetrical or it is not.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'look'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.