false dichotomy
Say it: false dye-KOT-uh-mee /ˌfɔːls daɪˈkɒtəmi/ · noun
What “false dichotomy” means
Offering only two choices when other choices exist.
More precisely: Presenting two options as the only possibilities when others exist.
Example: “'Either you hustle 80 hours a week or you don't want success' is a false dichotomy.”
When to use it
When someone forces a choice between two extremes and ignores other possibilities. A formal term useful in debates.
Similar words
false dilemma, either-or fallacy, black-and-white thinking
Quick check
A friend says you must either buy a car or never travel, ignoring buses, trains and bicycles. That choice is…
a compromise or a false dichotomy?
Show the answer
a false dichotomy
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