Word
dichotomy
Phoneticsdi·choto·my
US/daɪˈkɑtəmi/
UK/daɪkˈɒtəmi/
Definitions
01a contrast between two things
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic
n. a division or contrast between two things that are seen as opposites.
n. a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
“There is a clear dichotomy between what the company says and what it actually does.”
“The essay explores the dichotomy between public duty and private desire in nineteenth-century literature.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'between'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02logical division
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Logic Technical · Academic
n. the division of a group into two parts that do not overlap.
n. the division of a class or genus into two disjoint subclasses that are together comprehensive.
Español:dicotomía
“The biologist studied the dichotomy of the species into two distinct groups.”
“In formal logic, a dichotomy requires that the two resulting categories be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive.”
Usage
Common in scientific and philosophical contexts.
Synonyms
03botany/biology branching
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the way a plant stem or a vein splits into two equal parts.
n. a mode of branching by constant repeated division into two equal parts.
“The plant is identified by the dichotomy of its stems as they grow upward.”
“The fossil shows a clear pattern of dichotomy in the leaf veins, which helped researchers identify the ancient fern species.”
Usage
Used specifically in botany and anatomy to describe physical structures.
Synonyms
04astronomy phase
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a time when the moon or a planet looks half-lit from Earth.
n. the phase of the moon or an inferior planet when half of its disk appears illuminated.
“The moon reached dichotomy, appearing as a perfect half-circle in the night sky.”
“Precise observations of Venus at dichotomy were historically significant for calculating the distance between the Earth and the Sun.”
Usage
Refers to the specific geometric alignment of celestial bodies.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“But it also risks creating a false dichotomy where all AI programs are seen as responsive and motivating, and all classroom teaching is rote lecturing.” “Vollmann has spent his career refusing to distill the world into dichotomies.” Etymology
From Ancient Greek διχοτομία (dikhotomía, “dichotomy”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/dichotomy
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0