# dilemma

> English word · Noun · IPA /daɪˈlɛmə/ · frequency rank #10,678

## Definitions
1. A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
2. Any difficult circumstance or problem.
3. 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".
4. Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

## Etymology
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”).

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddilemma`, `dielmma`, `dilema`, `dilemam`, `dillemma`, `dilmema`, `dliemma`, `idlemma`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dilemma