bifurcation

noun

bi·​fur·​ca·​tion ˌbī-(ˌ)fər-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce bifurcation (audio)
1
a
: the point or area at which something divides into two branches or parts : the point at which bifurcating occurs
Inflammation may occlude the bifurcation of the trachea.
b
: branch
2
: the state of being divided into two branches or parts : the act of bifurcating

Examples of bifurcation in a Sentence

a thoughtful book about the nation's bifurcation into two distinct and antagonistic cultures a divisive issue that caused the bifurcation of the political party
Recent Examples on the Web Since the end of the Cold War and the subsequent bifurcation of Czechoslovakia, the two countries that emerged maintained warm brotherly ties, even when ruling governments in Prague and Bratislava were of differing political stripes. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 With firms pushing to lock down market share in a burgeoning asset class, this bifurcation among fund managers looks set to continue. Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 The effect of this bifurcation of sight and sound is extraordinary, as writer Giles Harvey explains in this essay. Longreads, 5 Jan. 2024 Experts are predicting a bifurcation in the real estate market, where newer, luxury properties will attract demand at the expense of older, less premium ones, which could face demolition. Isabelle Lee, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 This has led to a bifurcation in public policy recommendations. George Calhoun, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Level 2 refers to minutiae or small details, such as bifurcations, endings, eyes and hooks. Partha Banerjee, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 The result will effectively be a bifurcation of the asset into a form of bitcoin for investment and a bitcoin for bitcoin’s sake—held only by ideologues. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 11 Jan. 2024 Where does Malaysia fit in? Anwar: The bifurcation has not helped regional or international cooperation. Time, 11 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bifurcation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see bifurcate

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bifurcation was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near bifurcation

Cite this Entry

“Bifurcation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bifurcation. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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