Meaning & use
duality
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Meanings
noununcountable
The condition of having two parts or sides that often contrast with each other.
Grammar: Often uncountable; a duality of something.
Patterns
- the duality of something
- a duality between something and something
The novel explores the duality of good and evil.
She felt a duality in her identity.
The film plays on the duality between city and country.
noununcountablephysics
In physics, the property of light and matter to behave sometimes like waves and sometimes like particles.
Grammar: Usually wave-particle duality.
Patterns
- wave-particle duality
Wave-particle duality surprised early physicists.
Word forms
| plural | dualities |
|---|
Common combinations
- the duality of
- He explores the duality of human nature.
- wave-particle duality
- Wave-particle duality is a key idea.
- mind-body duality
- Philosophers debate mind-body duality.
- inherent duality
- There is an inherent duality in the role.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dichotomy
- Stresses a sharp split into two opposite groups.
- dualism
- A philosophical or religious view that two forces rule everything.
- polarity
- Opposite ends, like poles.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: duality or duel?
duality vs duel
A duel is a fight between two people, sounding the same as dual.
Practice
The poem explores the ___ of human nature, showing both kindness and cruelty.
Choose one answer.
Duality means having two contrasting sides. Duration means length of time.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “duality”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.