division into two parts or classifications, esp when they are sharply distinguished or opposed
the dichotomy between the mental and physical
2. logic
the division of a class into two mutually exclusive subclasses
the dichotomy of married and single people
3. botany
a simple method of branching by repeated division into two equal parts
4.
the phase of the moon, Venus, or Mercury when half of the disc is visible
▶ USAGE Dichotomy should always refer to a division of some kind into two groups. It is sometimes usedto refer to a puzzling situation which seems to involve a contradiction, but thisuse is generally thought to be incorrect
Derived forms
dichotomous (diˈchotomous) or dichotomic (ˌdaɪkəʊˈtɒmɪk)
adjective
dichotomously (diˈchotomously)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Greek dichotomia; see dicho-, -tomy
Examples of 'dichotomies' in a sentence
dichotomies
There was another state of mind that put aside such naive dichotomies; that made power from being in between conditions.
Clive Barker THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)
The debate on the right now has multiple dichotomies.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's a country of dichotomies.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
These false dichotomies divide the political agenda and destroy any hope of sensible global actions to defeat perfectly defeatable diseases.