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asynchronism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1/C2
UK/eɪˈsɪŋkrənɪz(ə)m/US/eɪˈsɪŋkrənɪzəm/

Formal, Technical, Academic

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Quick answer

What does “asynchronism” mean?

The state or condition of not happening at the same time or rate.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The state or condition of not happening at the same time or rate; a lack of synchrony or temporal coordination.

In computing: a method of data transmission where start and stop bits control the timing. In education: learning where participants engage with materials at different times (asynchronous learning). In various fields: any process or event that is out of phase with another.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.

Connotations

Neutral technical descriptor. In modern contexts, 'asynchronous' (adj.) carries positive connotations in tech (efficiency) and education (flexibility), whereas 'asynchronism' is the nominal state, often neutral or describing a problem to be solved (e.g., in engineering).

Frequency

Very low frequency in general discourse. 'Asynchronous' is the high-frequency derivative. Used primarily in scientific, engineering, computing, and academic literature.

Grammar

How to Use “asynchronism” in a Sentence

The asynchronism between X and Yasynchronism in the systemasynchronism caused by Xto correct for asynchronism

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
inherent asynchronismtemporal asynchronismphase asynchronismcommunication asynchronismsignal asynchronism
medium
cause asynchronismexhibit asynchronismdue to asynchronismproblem of asynchronismmeasure asynchronism
weak
slight asynchronismnoticeable asynchronismtechnical asynchronismpotential asynchronismresulting asynchronism

Examples

Examples of “asynchronism” in a Sentence

adverb

British English

  • The devices communicated asynchronously, without a shared clock signal.
  • Students can participate asynchronously throughout the week.

American English

  • The data is transmitted asynchronously across the network.
  • The team works asynchronously across different time zones.

adjective

British English

  • The asynchronous nature of the online forum allowed global participation.
  • They used an asynchronous communication protocol.

American English

  • The course is taught asynchronously via recorded lectures.
  • Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) changed web development.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rarely used directly. Might appear in technical reports on system integration issues, e.g., 'The asynchronism between the payment processor and the inventory system caused discrepancies.'

Academic

Used in physics, engineering, computer science, and neuroscience to describe processes out of phase. Also in linguistics regarding sound change or in history regarding non-aligned events.

Everyday

Virtually never used in everyday conversation. The concept is expressed with phrases like 'out of sync'.

Technical

Primary domain. In computing: 'Packet-switched networks handle asynchronism inherently.' In electronics: 'The asynchronism between the clock signals introduced errors.' In medicine: 'Asynchronism of ventricular contraction.'

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “asynchronism”

Strong

desynchronization

Neutral

desynchronizationlack of synchronyout-of-phase conditiontemporal offset

Weak

delaylagtime differencephase difference

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “asynchronism”

synchronismsynchronizationsimultaneityconcurrencysynchronicity

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “asynchronism”

  • Misspelling as 'asynchronicism' (this is incorrect; the correct form is asynchronism or asynchronicity).
  • Using it in casual contexts where 'out of sync' is appropriate.
  • Confusing it with 'anachronism' (something out of its proper historical time).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

They are near synonyms. 'Asynchronism' often refers to the specific state or instance of being out of sync, sometimes seen as a problem. 'Asynchronicity' (or 'asynchronousness') is a broader, more abstract noun for the quality of being asynchronous, often used positively in tech/education.

No, it is a low-frequency, formal/technical term. The adjective 'asynchronous' is vastly more common in contemporary language, especially in IT and modern work/education contexts.

Typically, it is a neutral or negative descriptor of a state of misalignment. However, in contexts like 'beneficial asynchronism' in ecology (where species' cycles are offset to reduce competition), it can be positive. The positivity is usually attached to the adjective 'asynchronous' (e.g., flexible, efficient).

It is pronounced ay-SIN-kruh-niz-uhm. Primary stress on the second syllable ('SIN'), secondary stress on the first ('ay'). The 'ch' is pronounced as a 'k' sound.

The state or condition of not happening at the same time or rate.

Asynchronism is usually formal, technical, academic in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of the prefix 'A-' meaning 'not' or 'without' + 'synchronism' (happening together in time). Picture two clocks showing different times – they are in a state of ASYNCHRONISM.

Conceptual Metaphor

TIME IS ALIGNMENT. Asynchronism is a MISALIGNMENT IN TIME (like cogs not meshing, musicians playing out of beat).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The between the shutter release and the flash resulted in a poorly lit photograph.
Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'asynchronism' LEAST likely to be used in a technical sense?

asynchronism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore