Meaning & use
dichotomous
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Dividing or being divided into two sharply distinct, often contradictory, parts or classes.
See it in a sentence
The debate framed the issue in dichotomous terms of right and wrong.
Biologists use a dichotomous key to identify species through paired choices.
A note on using this word
A "dichotomous key," common in biology classrooms, guides identification by repeatedly offering two contrasting choices.
Words with a similar meaning
binarybifurcated
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Words with an opposite meaning
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