either-or

American  

[ee-ther-awr, ahy-ther-] / ˈi ðərˈɔr, ˈaɪ ðər- /

adjective

1. allowing no equivocation; being limited in choice to two options.

   It's an either-or situation—you pay the bill or you lose the company's services.

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either-or British  

adjective

1. presenting an unavoidable need to choose between two alternatives

   an either-or situation

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Etymology

Origin of either-or

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

In the siloes of social media, all things must be either-or; there is no “and.”

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

“This is not an either-or situation,” Anenberg says.

From Scientific American • Sep. 22, 2023

It doesn’t have to be either-or; the story behind the brand premium may depend on the product.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2023

Gonzalez, whose group seeks to safeguard the wages and working conditions of apparel workers, resisted the notion of housing and jobs as an either-or proposition.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2023

“Mia Oh-My- Uh. I’m not giving anything up. It’s not an either-or proposition. Teaching or music. Jeans or suits. Music will always be a part of my life.”

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman