uneven

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Not smooth, level, or flat.

   She tripped on the uneven pavement.

2. 2
   adj

   Not the same throughout; varying in quality or amount.

   The recovery from the crisis has been uneven across the country.

3. 3
   adj

   Of a contest: not fairly matched.

   It was an uneven battle between the small team and the champions.

From Middle English uneven, from Old English unefen (“unequal, unlike, dissimilar, diverse, irregular”), equivalent to un- + even. Cognate with Dutch oneven (“unequal, uneven, odd”), German uneben (“uneven, rough, irregular, bumpy”).

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