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View synonyms for dichotomy

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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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
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Derived Forms

  • diˈchotomous, adjective
  • diˈchotomously, adverb
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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
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dichotomy1

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

The dichotomy of citrus notes and minerality have been a standout feature, pairing seamlessly with our dishes and enhancing the dining experience.

From Salon

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.

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.

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

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