trichotomy Hear it!

trichotomy Definition

tri·choto·my (trī kätə mē)

noun

division into three parts, elements, groups, etc.

Etymology: Gr tricha, threefold (< treis, three), after dichotomy

trichotomy Related Forms
tri·choto·mize′ (-mīz′) transitive verb -·mized′, -·miz′·ing tri·choto·mous adjective tri·choto·mously adverb
trichotomy Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • thesis: But hard comparisons raise the issue of the truth of the trichotomy thesis, and it has been challenged in two ways.