dilemma

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A difficult situation in which you must choose between two options that both seem bad.

   She faced the dilemma of caring for her parents or keeping her job.

2. 2
   noun

   Any difficult problem or tricky situation.

   The team's main dilemma was how to finish the project on time.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Dilemma entered English in the early 16th century from Greek dilēmma, formed from di- “twice” and lēmma “premise” or “assertion.” It was originally a technical term in logic and rhetoric for an argument presenting two equally unfavorable alternatives.

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”).

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