Word
duality
Phoneticsdu·al·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/duˈæɫəti/
UK/djuːˈælɪti/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the state of having two different parts or qualities that exist together. It often describes things that have two sides, like light and dark or good and evil.
n. the state of having two distinct, often contrasting or complementary, parts or aspects. In scientific contexts, it refers to the property of a single entity behaving in two different ways depending on the observation.
Examples
“The novel explores the duality of human nature.”
“The architect's design emphasizes the duality of light and shadow to create a sense of depth.”
“In quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality suggests that every particle or quantum entity may be described as either a particle or a wave depending on the experimental apparatus used.”
Examples
simple
“The novel explores the duality of human nature.”
contextual
“The architect's design emphasizes the duality of light and shadow to create a sense of depth.”
complex
“In quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality suggests that every particle or quantum entity may be described as either a particle or a wave depending on the experimental apparatus used.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept; countable when referring to specific instances or mathematical relationships.
Real-World Examples
“Rich in detail, Crushing delivered tales of heartbreak and betrayal with a kind of quiet impassivity, setting the scene for her own duality as an artist – at once open and reserved.” “Cartesian duality - that the soul and the body are separate entities - is deeply rooted in western culture.” Etymology
From Latin duālitās. From dual + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
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
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/duality