dichotomy

[ dahy-kot-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural di·chot·o·mies.

1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.
2. division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups:

   a dichotomy between thought and action.

3. Botany. a mode of branching by constant forking, as in some stems, in veins of leaves, etc.
4. Astronomy. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half of its disk is visible.

dichotomy

/ ˌdaɪkəʊˈtɒmɪk; daɪˈkɒtəmɪ /

noun

1. division into two parts or classifications, esp when they are sharply distinguished or opposed

   the dichotomy between eastern and western cultures

2. logic the division of a class into two mutually exclusive subclasses

   the dichotomy of married and single people

3. botany a simple method of branching by repeated division into two equal parts
4. the phase of the moon, Venus, or Mercury when half of the disc is visible

Usage

Dichotomy should always refer to a division of some kind into two groups. It is sometimes used to refer to a puzzling situation which seems to involve a contradiction, but this use is generally thought to be incorrect

Derived Forms

• diˈchotomous, adjective
• diˈchotomously, adverb

Other Words From

• di·cho·tom·ic [dahy-k, uh, -, tom, -ik], adjective
• di·cho·tom·i·cal·ly adverb
• sub·di·chot·o·my noun plural subdichotomies

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichotomy¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin dichotomia, from Greek dichotomía “dividing in two (of the quarters of the moon), point of a bisection, division into two parts”; dicho-, -tomy

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichotomy¹

C17: from Greek dichotomia; see dicho- , -tomy

Example Sentences

She is not “tacking to the center” per se, but creating a brand that can’t be placed as obviously in the left-center dichotomy as it used to be.

From Slate

Perhaps nowhere confronts a bleaker election-related dichotomy than Ukraine, soon to enter a third year of trying to fight off a full-scale invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps if he spent more time studying and less time bashing students, he would know that this is what logicians call a false dichotomy.

From Salon

For the longest time, culture and the framing of the American cultural narrative existed in a black-white dichotomy.

From Los Angeles Times

For Hernandez, this dichotomy is best played out in a bed, incorporating elements of the earth.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• difference of opinion