Symmetry means a kind of balanced matching where one part mirrors or repeats another part. When something has symmetry, you can divide it in a way that makes both sides look the same or follow the same pattern.

A butterfly has symmetry: if you drew a line down its center, the left wing would match the right wing. Your face has symmetry too: you have one eye on each side, positioned the same distance from your nose. A snowflake has six-way symmetry, with the same intricate pattern repeating around its center like slices of a pie.

Symmetry appears everywhere in nature, from the petals of flowers to the spirals of seashells. Architects and artists use symmetry to create buildings and designs that feel balanced and pleasing to look at. The Taj Mahal is famous partly because of its symmetry: everything on the left side matches what's on the right.

Mathematicians study symmetry to understand shapes and patterns. They've discovered that symmetry helps explain everything from crystal structures to the laws of physics. When you fold a piece of paper to cut out a paper snowflake, you're using symmetry to create patterns that repeat. The word can also describe balance in less visual ways, like when two people contribute symmetrically to a friendship, each giving and receiving equally.