Dilemma Definition

dĭ-lĕmə

dilemmas

noun

dilemmas

An argument necessitating a choice between equally unfavorable or disagreeable alternatives.

Webster's New World

Any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives.

Webster's New World

Any serious problem.

Webster's New World

(logic) 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".

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Dilemma

Noun

Singular:

dilemma

Plural:

dilemmas, dilemmata

Origin of Dilemma

First attested 1523, from Late Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek δίλημμα (dilēmma, “ambiguous proposition”), from δι- (di-) + λῆμμα (lēmma, “premise, proposition”).

From Wiktionary
Late Latin from Greek dilēmma ambiguous proposition di- two di–¹ lēmma proposition lemma¹

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition