bifurcated

adjective bi·fur·cat·ed \ ˈbī-(ˌ)fər-ˌkā-təd , bī-ˈfər- \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of bifurcated

: divided into two branches or parts

This near-earth asteroid appears as a bifurcated structure, consisting of two distinct lobes that seem to be in contact.
—Richard P. Binzel et al.

The town is a bifurcated community—two distinct communities in one, really.
—Dennis Farney

… the strange bifurcated world of whiteness and blackness in which I was born and reared.
—William Styron

Recent Examples of bifurcated from the Web

Given that virtually all the world’s biggest tech companies hail from either the United States or China, the global economy could suffer a major setback if the sides can’t cooperate, leading to a bifurcated market.

— david pierson, latimes.com, "Facebook's tie-up with Chinese smartphone giant Huawei makes a bad situation worse," 6 June 2018
But the bifurcated 2018 map — Senate races in Trump country, House races in the ever-bluer suburbs — reveals how little appetite there is for an immigration fight on these grounds.

— david weigel, Washington Post, "What Republicans just can’t seem to get away from," 22 June 2018
In Strong’s assured performance, the aristocratic, apolitical Lysistrata cycles through grief, rage, rebellion and transcendence as her protest movement unites Athens’ bifurcated female populace — first her fellow housewives and then the courtesans.

— philip brandes, latimes.com, "In 'Lysistrata Unbound,' the women go to war against war," 22 June 2018
The building has four layers representative of the earth: The bottom floor, Submersion, is supported by massive bifurcated columns mimicking petrified trees.

— vincent crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Polk County: Reclaiming Florida at Streamsong Resort," 6 May 2018
This protects all investors at all times, while avoiding the costs, conflicts and confusion of a bifurcated regulatory regime.

— paul s. atkins and, WSJ, "Leave Broker Disclosures to the SEC," 2 May 2018
Another problem: The city of Parkland, where the school is located, has a bifurcated 911 system; Calls from cellular phones go to the Coral Springs 911 center, while calls from landlines go to the Broward sheriff.

— CBS News, "Parkland school shooting: Graphic animation reveals exactly where victims were killed," 25 Apr. 2018
Also, the city of Parkland, where the school is located, has a bifurcated 911 system.

— Washington Post, "Investigators: School design contributed to massacre," 24 Apr. 2018
Much has changed since those bifurcated Cold War days.

— suzy hansen, The New Republic, "“What Difference Is Trump for Us?”," 24 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bifurcated.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.