uneven

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "uneven" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not balanced, symmetrical, or even in size or shape. For example, "The floor of the old house had an uneven surface, making it difficult to walk on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

British and Irish golfers, who would be links regulars for top amateur events, find themselves far removed from gusting winds and uneven bounces when taking up lucrative residence in Florida.

The Guardian - Sport

It is an uneven territory within its own boundaries.

The Guardian - Opinion

A hugely influential writer of short stories, the sheer mass of his extremely uneven body of work – 300 stories, 200 articles, six novels, two plays, and three travel books churned out between 1880 and 1891 – can obscure his genius like clouds around an alp.

The Guardian - Books

It was yet another uneven performance from the Nerazzurri, who thoroughly dominated the first half and went in at the break with a well-earned 2-0 lead but who eased off dangerously in the second, gifting their opponents a number of chances and eventually allowing Armando Izzo to pull back a goal near the end.

The Guardian - Sport

At the other end Johnson versus Jimmy Anderson provided a study not in fear, but in bravery and skill in an uneven contest.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the few to remain is the Iglesia San Francisco, its uneven floors and walls and sparsely decorated chapel belying the effort behind its construction, its quiet gloom a testimony to the might of the city's founder, Pedro de Valdivia.

The Guardian - Travel

Access to services may appear enhanced in urban areas, but often their quality is uneven and the competition for them is intense.

The Guardian

This is why I left my family and friends for three weeks and overcame my fear of flying to travel to a remote province that few have heard of; to carry a week's food and clothing on my back and struggle for sleep in a tent pitched on uneven, rocky ground.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The story of Klinsmann's three-year tenure with the US national team is one of progress in uneven stages, with forward steps sometimes followed by several in the wrong direction.

The Guardian - Sport

In qualifying, her belief-defying uneven bars routine made seasoned professionals gasp – and everyone knew that if she could just repeat it in the final, she would fulfil her dream.

The Guardian - Sport

It turns out that globalisation, while promising sameness through brand-name consumption, was fostering, through uneven economic growth, an intense feeling of difference.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts such as progress or quality, using "uneven" can effectively convey fluctuations or inconsistencies. For example, "The project experienced uneven progress due to unforeseen challenges."

Common error

Avoid using "uneven" when you intend to express unfairness or bias. While both terms relate to a lack of balance, "uneven" describes a lack of uniformity, while "unjust" indicates a moral inequity. For example, instead of saying "The distribution of resources was uneven", say "The distribution of resources was unjust" if the disparity resulted from unfair practices.

Linguistic Context

The word "uneven" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe a lack of uniformity, smoothness, or balance. As Ludwig indicates, it's a correct and usable term in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "uneven" functions as an adjective denoting a lack of uniformity, smoothness, or balance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While alternatives such as "irregular" and "inconsistent" exist, "uneven" uniquely highlights a lack of uniformity. It's important not to confuse "uneven" with "unjust", which implies unfairness. The best practice is to use "uneven" when describing disparities or inconsistencies, whether in physical surfaces, qualities, or distributions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not uniform

Emphasizes the lack of consistency throughout something.

irregular

Focuses on deviations from a standard or expected pattern.

inconsistent

Highlights a lack of predictability or reliability.

variable

Points out the changing nature or fluctuating quality of something.

mismatched

Suggests a lack of coordination or harmony between components.

rough

Implies a lack of smoothness or refinement, often in a physical sense.

unbalanced

Highlights a lack of equilibrium or proportion.

lopsided

Emphasizes an asymmetry where one side is favored or larger.

disparate

Stresses a fundamental difference or incongruity.

patchy

Indicates that something is only partially present or effective.

FAQs

How can I use "uneven" in a sentence?

"Uneven" can describe surfaces (e.g., "the road was uneven"), qualities (e.g., "the performance was uneven"), or distributions (e.g., "the distribution of wealth was uneven").

What's the difference between "uneven" and "irregular"?

"Uneven" generally implies a lack of uniformity or smoothness, while "irregular" suggests a deviation from a standard or expected pattern. "Uneven" can refer to both physical and abstract qualities, whereas "irregular" often describes non-conformity to rules or norms.

Which is correct, "uneven distribution" or "unjust distribution"?

Both phrases are correct, but they convey different meanings. "Uneven distribution" simply means the distribution is not uniform. "Unjust distribution" implies the distribution is unfair or morally wrong.

What can I say instead of "uneven" to describe progress?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "inconsistent", "fluctuating", or "sporadic" to describe progress that is not steady.