Dilemma
/dɪˈlɛm.ə/noun
A situation in which a difficult choice must be made between two or more alternatives.
Did you know?In Greek rhetoric, a dilemma was a tightly engineered argument meant to force an opponent into two equally bad conclusions—basically an ancient verbal trap.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
δίλημμα (dílēmma)
“a double proposition or argument with two premises”
Late Latin
Latin
dilemma
“a rhetorical syllogism with two premises”
Middle French
French
dilemme
“a difficult choice or logical predicament”
16th Century
English
dilemme
“a form of argument or logical trap”
Modern English
English
dilemma
“a situation requiring a difficult choice between alternatives”