anisotropy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “anisotropy” mean?
The property of being directionally dependent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The property of being directionally dependent; having different physical properties when measured along different axes.
In a broader sense, any situation where a characteristic or behavior varies depending on direction or orientation, not just in physics but in fields like materials science, geology, and biology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard UK/US conventions for the root 'anisotropic'.
Connotations
Purely technical and neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both UK and US English, confined to scientific literature and discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “anisotropy” in a Sentence
The anisotropy of [material/property]Anisotropy in [system/medium]To exhibit/show anisotropyAnisotropy along the [axis/direction]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anisotropy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The rock's anisotropic properties were crucial for the seismic model.
- They studied the anisotropic behaviour of the crystal under stress.
American English
- The material's anisotropic structure affects how it transmits sound.
- Anisotropic filtering is a setting in computer graphics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in physics, materials science, earth sciences, and engineering papers to describe directional properties of materials, rocks, or fields.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would not be understood by the general public.
Technical
Core term in fields dealing with material properties, electromagnetism, seismology, and liquid crystals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anisotropy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anisotropy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anisotropy”
- Misspelling as 'anisoptropy' or 'anistropy'.
- Using it as an adjective (the adjective is 'anisotropic').
- Confusing it with 'heterogeneity' (which is variation in composition, not necessarily with direction).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The opposite is 'isotropy', which describes a material or property that is identical in all directions.
Yes. Wood is anisotropic: it is much easier to split along the grain (the direction of the wood fibres) than across it.
Yes, while rooted in physics, it is also used in geology (rock fabrics), biology (muscle tissue), and engineering (composite materials).
The adjective form is 'anisotropic'. For example, 'an anisotropic material'.
Anisotropy is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Anisotropy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.aɪˈsɒt.rə.pi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.aɪˈsɑː.trə.pi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AN-ISOTROPY' = 'NOT-ISOTROPY'. Isotropy means same in all directions (iso = same, tropos = way). Anisotropy is the opposite (an = not).
Conceptual Metaphor
A piece of wood that is easy to split along the grain but hard to split across it is a common metaphor for anisotropy.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'anisotropy' LEAST likely to be used?