dichotomy
5 synonyms for dichotomy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A division into two parts that are treated as opposed or entirely separate.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dichotomy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
false dichotomy
a clear dichotomy
the dichotomy between
Etymology
From Greek "dikhotomia," a cutting in two, from "dikha" (in two) plus "temnein" (to cut).
Full origin of dichotomy →Frequently asked questions
What does dichotomy mean?
A split into two parts presented as opposites — mind and body, work and life, nature and nurture. Calling something a dichotomy often hints that the division is too neat to be true.
What is a false dichotomy?
Presenting only two options as though they were the only possibilities when others exist. It is a common rhetorical fallacy, also called a false dilemma.
