one-dimensional

adjective

one-di·​men·​sion·​al
ˈwən-də-ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
 How to pronounce one-dimensional (audio)
 also  -dī-
1
: having one dimension
A straight line is one-dimensional.
The one-dimensional sequence of amino acids is the primary structure.Douglas R. Hofstadter
2
: lacking depth or complexity : superficial
To the audience, the term "sitcom" connoted a lot of one-dimensional stories and characters.Bob Fisher
one-dimensionality noun
one-di​mension​ally adverb
a one-dimensionally portrayed character
The pixels were arranged one-dimensionally. [=in a straight line]

Examples of one-dimensional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web No one is one-dimensional, and if you're drawn to a couple opposing aesthetics, why not combine them for a striking, unique home that speaks to you? Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2024 Though war movies are among the most popular genres, veterans are barely represented in the industry, often leading to one-dimensional characters. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 And over the millennia, scientists have generally regarded time as a one-dimensional thing, an arrow that keeps moving forward, never backward. Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 The first four chapters were on one-dimensional knots, two-dimensional surfaces, and three- and four- dimensional manifolds (spaces like the surface of a sphere that appear flat locally but can have more complicated global structure). Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 But here, Barter is never portrayed as anything but a strong, determined seeker — again, quite complimentary to the subject, but ultimately a little one-dimensional. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024 Learning potential is not a one-dimensional or uniform trait. Yec, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 And so, whether that's supporting girls and their aspirations in sports or caring about the environment with our Go Green program, or dedicating our efforts to the autism community, all of those things matter because people are not one-dimensional. Regan Stephens, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024 And because a one-dimensional point fulfills every symmetry anyway, the monster can also describe its symmetrical properties. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one-dimensional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-dimensional was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near one-dimensional

Cite this Entry

“One-dimensional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-dimensional. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

one-dimensional

adjective
1
: having one dimension
2

More from Merriam-Webster on one-dimensional

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