dichotomy

[dahy-kot-uh-mee]

noun

plural

dichotomies 

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

Other Word Forms

• dichotomous adjective
• dichotomously adverb
• dichotomic adjective
• dichotomically adverb
• subdichotomy noun

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

And it’s also the perfect encapsulation of an emerging culinary-adjacent dichotomy: Human breast milk consumption is more visible than ever, but consuming the actual stuff still feels pretty taboo.

From Salon

There was a dichotomy, and a paradox, about Red Bull under Horner.

From BBC

Smartly, these films don’t create a phony dichotomy between tender humans and cold machinery.

From Los Angeles Times

The vivifying dichotomy is even announced in advance.

From Los Angeles Times

He criticizes the U.S.-Israeli narrative distinguishing “the people” from “the regime,” noting that wartime solidarity has erased this dichotomy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• difference of opinion www.thesaurus.com