duality

noun

du·​al·​i·​ty dü-ˈa-lə-tē 

 also  dyü-

plural dualities

: the quality or state of having two different or opposite parts or elements : dualism

That duality—sophistication paired with authenticity on the wine list, simplicity spiced with creativity on the menu—gives Marea energy and distinctive character.

—Thomas Matthews

Another series from later years consisted of views of New York skyscrapers … which incorporate abstract patterns of light and shadow that express the duality of feeling, the fascination and loathing he had come to feel for the city.

—Naomi Rosenblum

By the wave/particle duality of quantum mechanics, light can be regarded as both a wave and a particle.

—Stephen Hawking

also : a difference between two opposite things : a division into two opposite groups : dichotomy

For the most part Prince seems to be hoisting himself on the horns of the same duality that inspires most of his song lyrics: spirituality vs. carnality.

—David Hiltbrand

As my meditation teacher says, "Judgment is a form of violence to yourself as well as others. It creates duality and separates you from others."

—Yoga Journal

Examples of duality in a Sentence

the duality of human nature

They discussed the dualities of the novel's characters.

Recent Examples on the Web

After all, Lynch was manifesting in these reports the duality that was a hallmark of his aesthetic, a kind of excessive, pathological normalcy. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2025

This duality exists because Aquarius reminds us there’s a time to be our own unique spice and a time to join the Spice Girls. —Colin Bedell, Them, 16 Jan. 2025

All these dualities that underlie ordinary cognition basically melt into a big soup of the Now. —Oshan Jarow, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025

Together, these vulnerabilities—domestic fragmentation and strategic insolvency—threaten the United States’ stability and security, creating dualities that define its power. —Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined above