Pronunciation: [ʌnˈiːvən] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "uneven" can be explained with IPA phonetic transcription as /ʌnˈiːvən/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short u sound /ʌ/ and the second syllable is pronounced with the long e sound /iː/. The final syllable has the schwa sound /ən/. The spelling of the word follows traditional English spelling rules, where the prefix "un" is added to the word "even" to create a new word meaning not even or irregular.
Uneven is an adjective that describes something that lacks uniformity, consistency, or regularity in shape, surface, degree, or quality. It refers to an object or a surface that is not smooth, level, or flat. Unevenness is often caused by variations, differences, or irregularities in size, height, thickness, or texture.
When used in reference to terrain or ground, uneven denotes an irregular or bumpy surface that is not flat, presenting variations in elevation or roughness. This unevenness can make walking or driving difficult and precarious.
In a figurative sense, uneven describes something that is not harmonious, equal, or steady. It implies a lack of balance, symmetry, or uniform distribution. For example, an uneven distribution of wealth refers to an unfair or disproportionate allocation of resources or riches among individuals or groups.
Uneven can also be used to describe a situation or performance that shows inconsistency, disparity, or fluctuations. It suggests that there are inconsistencies, fluctuations, or discrepancies in quality, intensity, or progress. For instance, an uneven performance in sports may involve some exceptional moments or segments and some weaker or less successful ones.
Overall, uneven describes the state of being irregular, lacking uniformity, or not exhibiting a consistent and smooth structure, whether it pertains to physical surfaces, distributions, or performances.
Not level; not uniform; not of equal length.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "uneven" originated from the Old English word "unefen", which was a combination of the prefix "un-" (meaning "not" or "lacking") and the word "efen" (meaning "even" or "equal"). "Efen" itself was derived from the Proto-Germanic language. Hence, the etymology of "uneven" essentially conveys the idea of something that is not equal or lacks an even surface or quality.
