dichotomy

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˌdaɪˈkɒtəmi/ 🇺🇸 /daɪˈkɑtəmiː/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.; A division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups or entities.; In botany, a mode of branching by repeated forking into two equal parts.; In astronomy, the phase of the moon when exactly half of its disk is illuminated.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: dichotomies

Collocations

false dichotomydichotomy betweenpresent a dichotomycreate a dichotomydichotomy of

Derivatives

dichotomousdichotomizedichotomizationdichotomously

Synonyms

divisionsplitcontrastoppositionbifurcationpolarity

Antonyms

unitysimilarityagreement

Commonly confused

duality
EN: 'Duality' refers to the quality of having two parts or aspects; 'dichotomy' emphasizes a sharp division or contrast between two opposing things.
paradox
EN: 'Paradox' is a seemingly contradictory statement that may be true; 'dichotomy' is a division into two mutually exclusive or opposing categories.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'dichotomy' uses 'ch' (not 'k') and ends with '-otomy' (not '-onomy'). The adjective form is 'dichotomous', not 'dichotomous' with an extra syllable.

💬 Examples

  1. The dichotomy between rich and poor is a central theme in the novel.

  2. There is a false dichotomy between economic growth and environmental protection.

  3. The fern exhibits dichotomy in its branching pattern.

  4. The moon reached dichotomy at the first quarter phase.