dichotomous
adjective
di·chot·o·mous
dī-ˈkä-tə-məs
also də-
1
: dividing into two contradictory or contrasting parts or groups
2
: relating to, involving, or proceeding from dichotomy
the limitations of a dichotomous worldview
All forms of cultural evolution, language included, are devilishly intricate networks, not orderly systems of dichotomous branching.—Stephen Jay Gould
… many pollsters provide only two possible answers to a question …, eliminating the central tendency and artificially reducing a spectrum of responses towards dichotomous poles.—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian
dichotomously
adverb
dichotomousness
noun
Cite this Entry
“Dichotomous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dichotomous. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.
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