dichotomy

noun

di·chot·o·my dī-ˈkä-tə-mē How to pronounce dichotomy (audio)

also də-

plural dichotomies

: a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities

the dichotomy between theory and practice

also : the process or practice of making such a division

dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes

: something with seemingly contradictory qualities

it's a dichotomy, this opulent Ritz-style luxury in a place that fronts on a boat harbor

Jean T. Barrett

: the phase of the moon or an inferior planet in which half its disk appears illuminated

: bifurcation

especially : repeated bifurcation (as of a plant's stem)

: a system of branching in which the main axis forks repeatedly into two branches

: branching of an ancestral line into two equal diverging branches

Did you know?

Dichotomy and False Dichotomy

The two most commonly used senses of dichotomy are easily (and often) confused. The older one refers to the division of something into two groups that often are mutually exclusive or contradictory (as in “the dichotomy between good and evil”). Like trichotomy (meaning “division into three parts”), this sense denotes separation into different elements, but it adds the connotation of oppositeness. The newer sense of dichotomy denotes a thing that appears to have contradictory qualities, such as a lemonade stand found in a war zone. Dichotomy is frequently found in the company of the word false; a false dichotomy is a kind of fallacy in which one is given only two choices when in fact other options are available.

Example Sentences

The amusing spectacle of the recent presidential vote in Florida should remind us of the persistence of the federal-state dichotomy.

Eugene Genovese, Atlantic, March 2001 At the close of this millennium, the favored dichotomy features a supposed battle called "the science wars."

Stephen Jay Gould, Science, 14 Jan. 2000 … to insist on its being either symbol or fact is to dwell needlessly on a false dichotomy.

Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988 … the Inuit concept of their environment was centred around the dichotomy between land and sea.

Ian Hodder, Reading the Past, 1986 Her essay discusses the dichotomy between good and evil in the author's novels. her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes See More

Recent Examples on the Web Tuesday’s results immediately set up a gubernatorial fight defined by its dichotomy.

Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Truss’ proposal to add more funding to social care has been welcomed by many; however experts warn it’s a false dichotomy, as that investment is very much needed in the NHS as well.

Kara Fox, CNN, 31 Aug. 2022 By the end of the decade, Grey Gardens stood as a strange dichotomy, straddling extreme wealth and crippling poverty.

Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Aug. 2022 The dichotomy between setting a foundation for the future and the lack of tangible success led to conflicting emotions for Knox as the season ended.

Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Aug. 2022 Young doesn’t see that dichotomy as a contradiction.

Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 But the dichotomy helps explain why the right-wing channel continues to be supportive of Trump, despite recent reporting that indicates the Murdochs are privately disillusioned with him.

Oliver Darcy, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 Through the eyes of an insecure person, an interesting dichotomy is there.

Jaelani Turner-williams, SPIN, 6 July 2022 Few players present quite such a distinct dichotomy as Mitrovic.

New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	dichotomies
释义	dichotomy noun di·chot·o·my dī-ˈkä-tə-mē also də- plural dichotomies 1 : a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities the dichotomy between theory and practice also : the process or practice of making such a division dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes 2 : something with seemingly contradictory qualities it's a dichotomy, this opulent Ritz-style luxury in a place that fronts on a boat harbor Jean T. Barrett 3 : the phase of the moon or an inferior planet in which half its disk appears illuminated 4 a : bifurcation especially : repeated bifurcation (as of a plant's stem) b : a system of branching in which the main axis forks repeatedly into two branches c : branching of an ancestral line into two equal diverging branches Did you know? Dichotomy and False Dichotomy The two most commonly used senses of dichotomy are easily (and often) confused. The older one refers to the division of something into two groups that often are mutually exclusive or contradictory (as in “the dichotomy between good and evil”). Like trichotomy (meaning “division into three parts”), this sense denotes separation into different elements, but it adds the connotation of oppositeness. The newer sense of dichotomy denotes a thing that appears to have contradictory qualities, such as a lemonade stand found in a war zone. Dichotomy is frequently found in the company of the word false; a false dichotomy is a kind of fallacy in which one is given only two choices when in fact other options are available. Synonyms contradiction incongruity paradox See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The amusing spectacle of the recent presidential vote in Florida should remind us of the persistence of the federal-state dichotomy. Eugene Genovese, Atlantic, March 2001 At the close of this millennium, the favored dichotomy features a supposed battle called "the science wars." Stephen Jay Gould, Science, 14 Jan. 2000 … to insist on its being either symbol or fact is to dwell needlessly on a false dichotomy. Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988 … the Inuit concept of their environment was centred around the dichotomy between land and sea. Ian Hodder, Reading the Past, 1986 Her essay discusses the dichotomy between good and evil in the author's novels. her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes See More Recent Examples on the Web Tuesday’s results immediately set up a gubernatorial fight defined by its dichotomy. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Truss’ proposal to add more funding to social care has been welcomed by many; however experts warn it’s a false dichotomy, as that investment is very much needed in the NHS as well. Kara Fox, CNN, 31 Aug. 2022 By the end of the decade, Grey Gardens stood as a strange dichotomy, straddling extreme wealth and crippling poverty. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Aug. 2022 The dichotomy between setting a foundation for the future and the lack of tangible success led to conflicting emotions for Knox as the season ended. Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Aug. 2022 Young doesn’t see that dichotomy as a contradiction. Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 But the dichotomy helps explain why the right-wing channel continues to be supportive of Trump, despite recent reporting that indicates the Murdochs are privately disillusioned with him. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 Through the eyes of an insecure person, an interesting dichotomy is there. Jaelani Turner-williams, SPIN, 6 July 2022 Few players present quite such a distinct dichotomy as Mitrovic. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from New Latin dichotomia, borrowed from Greek dichotomía "division into two parts (of the moon, in logic), bisection," from dichótomos "cut in half, dichotomous" + -ia -ia entry 1 First Known Use 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Medical Definition dichotomy noun di·chot·o·my dī-ˈkät-ə-mē also də- plural dichotomies : a division or forking into branches especially : repeated bifurcation dichotomies noun plural of dichotomy as in paradoxes someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance paradoxes incongruities enigmas contradictions mysteries antinomies riddles conundrums puzzles mystifications puzzlements
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dichotomy

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

noun