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View synonyms for

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

“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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Other Word Forms

  • dichotomic adjective
  • dichotomically adverb
  • subdichotomy noun
  • 徱ˈdzٴdzdzܲ adjective
  • 徱ˈdzٴdzdzܲly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dichotomy1

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin dichotomia, from Greek 徱dzٴdzí “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

Examples have not been reviewed.

"There was this kind of cheeky awareness of stereotypical representations of Native Americans on screen," she said, referring to the dichotomy of Chief Hotate also being a casino owner.

From

"There is a stunning dichotomy between predominantly White Christian groups and everyone else."

From

This dichotomy of leadership styles could prove instrumental in a locker room filled with rookies and rising stars.

From

Later on in life, he’d see the same dichotomy play out elsewhere in California.

From

That dichotomy made Hill wonder how he could convince his boss, coach Jim Wagner, to motivate Falstaff to do more while rewarding Chinen with more playing time.

From

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dichotomous questiondichroic