rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydichotomyDivision into two parts
noun

dichotomy

dye-KAH-tuh-mee/daɪˈkɑːtəmi/

A division into two contrasting or branching parts.

The divided tray presents a dichotomy between black counters and white counters.

A single shallow sorting tray divided into two equal compartments: exclusively matte-black counters on one side and exclusively ivory-white counters on the other.
Etymology
dichoGreekin two
+tomyGreekto cut

The image is of cutting something in two. Applied to ideas or categories, this became a division into two sharply contrasting classes.

In context

Wes Cecil0:51
it's called the false dichotomy. And essentially, almost anytime, not quite anytime, but almost anytime you see people breaking a question into two possible answers, it's either this or that
Us vs Them and the Dangers of Poor Thinking

More examples

  • Her essay explores the dichotomy between public image and private life.
  • The survey forces complex opinions into a simple yes-or-no dichotomy.
  • Real communities rarely fit such neat dichotomies.

Forms

dichotomy · dichotomies

dichotomous adjective — Divided into two distinct or opposing parts.

Similar words

division
A broader term for separation into any number of parts.
split
A general separation that need not involve contrasting categories.
contrast
Emphasizes differences between things rather than their separation into groups.