dichotomy
/daɪˈkɑtəmi/
Frequency: 3.09 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A separation or division into two; a distinction that results in such a division.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Such a division involving apparently incompatible or opposite principles; a duality.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The division of a class into two disjoint subclasses that are together comprehensive, as the division of human into female and male.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The division of a genus into two species; a division into two subordinate parts.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A phase of the moon when it appears half lit and half dark, for example at the quadratures.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Division and subdivision; bifurcation, such as that of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; often successive.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The dichotomy between the private and the public is central to almost two centuries of feminist writing and political struggle; it is, ultimately, what the feminist movement is all about. Although some feminists treat the dichotomy as a universal, trans-historical and trans-cultural feature of human existence, feminist criticism is primarily directed at the separation and opposition between the public and private spheres in liberal theory and practice."
- "The dichotomy between maria and highlands dominates lunar mineralogy."
- "Despite some contradictions found in the essay, its major emphasis is laid on the politics-administration dichotomy theory. It is largely devoted to the argument concerning the separability of politics and administration. The politics-administration dichotomy initiated by Wilson was later elaborated by Frank J. Goodnow in his work, “Politics and Administration” (1900)."
- "All of this previous analysis was based on two related ideas: the classical dichotomy and monetary neutrality. Recall that the classical dichotomy is the separation of variables into real variables (those that measure quantities or relative prices) and nominal variables (those measured in terms of money)."
- "But we do not try to characterize the top and bottom parts of the brain in terms of a simple dichotomy or set of dichotomies, which was exactly what was done with the existing and well-known division of the brain into two halves: namely the left versus the right, the dominant pop-culture brain story of the last few decades. […] The differences between the left and right sides of the brain are nuanced, and simple, sweeping dichotomies do not in fact explain how the two sides function."
- "But in the fallacy of false dichotomy, not only do the two alternatives fail to be jointly exhaustive, but they are not even likely. As a result, the disjunctive premise is false, or at least probably false."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: διχοτομία
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /daɪˈkɑtəmi/
- British English: /daɪˈkɒtəmi/