Definitions
01choice between bad options
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a situation where you have to choose between two or more things, but none of them are good.
n. a state of uncertainty or perplexity in which a choice must be made between two or more equally undesirable alternatives.
日本語:ジレンマ※
“He faced a difficult dilemma: stay in a job he hated or quit and have no money.”
“The ethical dilemma of whether to report a colleague's minor mistake or maintain professional loyalty weighed heavily on the manager's mind.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'face', 'pose', or 'resolve'.
Pitfall
I am in a dilemma between the two jobs.
I face a dilemma regarding the two jobs.
While you can be 'in a dilemma', the word describes the situation itself, not the act of choosing between things. Use 'face a dilemma' or 'the dilemma of' for better flow.
Teaching tip
Strictly speaking, a dilemma involves exactly two choices (from the Greek 'di-'), but in modern English, it is commonly used for any number of difficult options.
Synonyms
02a general problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a difficult problem that is hard to solve.
n. any difficult or persistent problem; often used loosely to describe a general predicament rather than a specific choice.
“The city's traffic dilemma has only gotten worse over the last few years.”
“The ongoing housing dilemma in urban centres requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both supply and affordability.”
Teaching tip
Purists may dislike this 'loose' use of the word, but it is very common in journalism and daily speech.
Synonyms
03logical argument
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Technical · Academic
n. a type of formal argument in logic where two different paths lead to the same result.
n. a form of syllogism in which the major premise consists of two conditional propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition.
日本語:ジレンマ※
“The professor used a logical dilemma to prove that both theories led to the same conclusion.”
“In formal logic, a constructive dilemma allows one to infer the truth of a disjunction from the premises provided.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dilemma” in context.
Verb
01. pose dilemma
“The new regulations pose a dilemma for small business owners who cannot afford the compliance costs.”
verb + noun
02. present dilemma
“The sudden job offer in another country presented a difficult dilemma for his family.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. ethical dilemma
“Medical professionals often face an ethical dilemma when patient confidentiality conflicts with public safety.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Now their country, which is below sea level, finds itself, in an era of global warming, facing a dilemma: How to retain water while protecting themselves from it?” “This dilemma is made more difficult by the fact that we experience and respond to certain kinds of moral threats more strongly than others.” Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ First attested 1523, from Late Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek δίλημμα (dílēmma, “ambiguous proposition”), from δι- (di-, “having two of”) + λῆμμα (lêmma, “premise, proposition”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. Faustian dilemma
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/dilemma
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR