Skip to main content
asynchronism

asynchronism

9.7
A situation in which events do not happen at the same time or speed
  • noun
  • /ˌeɪsɪŋˈkrɪnɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : asincronía
  • The asynchronism of the traffic lights caused confusion among the drivers at the intersection.

Examples

  • The asynchronism between the two dancers made their performance even more captivating.

  • "Indeed, Louis Aragon had spoken of the critical productivity of stylistic clashes, violations of the historical logic of style: such "asynchronisms of desire" would reveal the contradictions of modernity.

    Academic text (2005)
  • In some computing systems, asynchronism can lead to errors if tasks are not properly coordinated.

Synonyms

asynchrony
vsasynchronism
9.2

Two or more things do not happen at the same time

is the alternative variant used for the same timing state
desynchronization
vsasynchronism
  • Specialized
9.3

A state when things that should happen together do not happen at the same time

is the condition of not occurring together rather than the losing process

Antonyms

12 4.7

The state of things happening at the same time

The state of events or actions happening at the same time

How Synchronous

synchrony
2 6.7
synchronization
  • US
12 4.7
asynchronism
  • Specialized
9.7

Surface Forms

asynchronism singular
asynchronisms plural

Morphology

asynchronism = synchronism (semi-transparent) = a + syn + chron + ism

The meaning 'lack of synchronism' follows regularly from adding negative 'a-' to 'synchronism', but this learned classical prefix is not very familiar to many learners.

Etymology

Asynchronism comes from Greek parts a- 'not', syn- 'together', and chron- 'time', as in synchronize which means 'to happen at the same time'. So, asynchronism is when things do not happen at the same time.