dilemma

CEFRC1

/daɪˈlɛmə/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A difficult choice between two or more options.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".

Examples

  • I could see no way of resolving this moral dilemma.

  • Never in his life had he encountered such a dilemma.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /daɪˈlemə/
  • /dɑeˈlemə/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Any difficult circumstance or problem.

  2. A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

  3. Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

More examples

In context

  • I am in a terrible dilemma.

  • A strong dilemma in a desperate case! / To act with infamy, or quit the place.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

She faced a blank between staying in her hometown or moving abroad.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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”), equivalent to di- + lemma.