noun
Uncommon
dichotomy
dye-KOT-uh-mee
Dichotomy (noun) means a division into two parts that are treated as opposed or entirely separate. Example: “The old dichotomy between work and home has blurred.”
noun
1
A division into two parts that are treated as opposed or entirely separate.
"The old dichotomy between work and home has blurred."
How to use dichotomy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA split between two things treated as opposites.
Common pairings
false dichotomy
a clear dichotomy
the dichotomy between
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The old _____ between work and home has blurred.
Etymology
From Greek "dikhotomia," a cutting in two, from "dikha" (in two) plus "temnein" (to cut).
Related words
Rhymes for dichotomy
roomy
gloomy
sodomy
economy
anatomy
taxonomy
antinomy
autotomy
autonomy
lobotomy
astronomy
colostomy
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of dichotomy?
"dichotomy" (noun) means a division into two parts that are treated as opposed or entirely separate.
What is another word for dichotomy?
Other words for "dichotomy" include division, split, contrast, polarity, duality.
