uneven

[ uhn-ee-vuhn ]

adjective

1. not level or flat; rough; rugged:

   The wheels bumped and jolted over the uneven surface.

2. irregular; varying; not uniform:

   The book is uneven in quality.

3. not equitable or fair; one-sided:

   an uneven contest.

   Synonyms: lopsided, unequal, unfair

4. not equally balanced; not symmetrical or parallel.
5. (of a number) odd; not divisible into two equal integers:

   The numerals 3, 5, and 7 are uneven.

uneven

/ ʌnˈiːvən /

adjective

1. (of a surface, etc) not level or flat
2. spasmodic or variable
3. not parallel, straight, or horizontal
4. not fairly matched

   an uneven race

5. archaic.
   not equal
6. obsolete.
   unjust

Derived Forms

• unˈevenly, adverb
• unˈevenness, noun

Other Words From

• un·even·ly adverb
• un·even·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uneven¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English unefen; cognate with German uneben. See un- ¹, even ¹

Example Sentences

Starting out in Igneada, in the north of the country, he walked along a slippery, uneven trail for half a day, through dense forest and sharp shrubbery in the direction of Bulgaria.

From BBC

Tuesday’s vote marks another chapter in City Hall’s uneven efforts to declare itself a sanctuary city.

From Los Angeles Times

Making his way on the uneven path to the tent camp that he now calls home, Rizeq Tafish has been given crutches to help him adjust to his new prosthetic leg.

From BBC

The move relegates Miller Moss to a reserve role after nine uneven starts this season.

From Los Angeles Times

When issues do arise, actors are scared to speak out or be seen as “troublemakers” because of an uneven power dynamic, Alexa says.

From BBC

Related Words

• bumpy
• irregular
• odd
• patchy
• rough
• spotty
• unbalanced
• unequal
• unsteady