dichotomy
Americannoun
plural
dichotomies-
division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.
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division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups.
a dichotomy between thought and action.
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Botany. a mode of branching by constant forking, as in some stems, in veins of leaves, etc.
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Astronomy. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half of its disk is visible.
noun
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division into two parts or classifications, esp when they are sharply distinguished or opposed
the dichotomy between eastern and western cultures
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logic the division of a class into two mutually exclusive subclasses
the dichotomy of married and single people
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botany a simple method of branching by repeated division into two equal parts
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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
Other Word Forms
- dichotomic adjective
- dichotomically adverb
- dichotomous adjective
- dichotomously adverb
- subdichotomy noun
Etymology
Origin of dichotomy
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While that dichotomy can be confusing to some on TikTok, it fits together in Kempczinski’s effort to drive as much traffic as possible to restaurants.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
As the market digests Big Tech’s ambitious artificial-intelligence spending plans for 2026, the relative cheapness of Microsoft’s stock underscores a new dichotomy in technology investing.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 9, 2026
Stewart opted out of the burial/cremation dichotomy, saying she wanted to become compost.
From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025
There was a dichotomy, and a paradox, about Red Bull under Horner.
From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025
Now she’s got her glossy, sparkly lips turned up at me, and I feel this amazing dichotomy going on.
From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
