dichotomous
adjective
di·chot·o·mous dī-ˈkä-tə-məs 
also də-
1
: dividing into two parts
2
: relating to, involving, or proceeding from dichotomy
the plant's dichotomous branching
a dichotomous approach
can't be split into dichotomous categories
dichotomously adverb
dichotomousness noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web These pervasive conundrums all seemingly suggest that we at times are faced with a dichotomous situation and need to choose one facet or the other. 
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Light and dark, introspective and expressive, moody and raw as heck; these are all concepts Russian artist Biicla explores on his sophomore album Yes Place, which is in itself a dichotomous response to his 2020 debut LP, No Place. Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 July 2022 The dichotomous reaction to Sam Read-Graves’ morally heavy game is a win-win. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Here’s the next set of questions, which are drawn from research on dichotomous thinking by psychologist Atsushi Oshio. Shlomo Benartzi, WSJ, 20 May 2022 From differences in costuming to the dichotomous emphases in training and style of movement, classical ballet epitomizes the gender binary at its most rigid. oregonlive, 4 June 2022 For me and many like me, the gamut of our decision-making is not dichotomous – to have a baby or not have a baby. Kwentoria A. Williams, Essence, 11 Apr. 2022 None of the six is strictly dichotomous, Jordan-Young said, and the different markers don’t always align. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 The steampunk grandeur of the lobby at the Pearl’s Hotel Emma, dressed in the dichotomous trappings of old industrial majesty, hides luxury in plain sight. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Mar. 2022 See More
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Light and dark, introspective and expressive, moody and raw as heck; these are all concepts Russian artist Biicla explores on his sophomore album Yes Place, which is in itself a dichotomous response to his 2020 debut LP, No Place. Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 July 2022 The dichotomous reaction to Sam Read-Graves’ morally heavy game is a win-win. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Here’s the next set of questions, which are drawn from research on dichotomous thinking by psychologist Atsushi Oshio. Shlomo Benartzi, WSJ, 20 May 2022 From differences in costuming to the dichotomous emphases in training and style of movement, classical ballet epitomizes the gender binary at its most rigid. oregonlive, 4 June 2022 For me and many like me, the gamut of our decision-making is not dichotomous – to have a baby or not have a baby. Kwentoria A. Williams, Essence, 11 Apr. 2022 None of the six is strictly dichotomous, Jordan-Young said, and the different markers don’t always align. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 The steampunk grandeur of the lobby at the Pearl’s Hotel Emma, dressed in the dichotomous trappings of old industrial majesty, hides luxury in plain sight. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin dichotomos, borrowed from Greek dichótomos "cut in half, divided equally," from dicho- dicho- + -tomos, adjective derivative from the base of témnein "to cut" — more at tome
First Known Use
1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing dichotomous
Medical Definition
dichotomous
adjective
di·chot·o·mous
dī-ˈkät-ə-məs also də-
: dividing into two parts
dichotomous branching