Definition of TRILEMMA

trilemma

Meanings

Plural: trilemmas

Noun

  • A circumstance in which a choice must be made between three options that seem equally undesirable.
  • A situation in which a choice must be made among three desirable options, only two of which are possible at the same time.
  • An argument containing three alternatives, jointly exhaustive either under any condition(s) or under all condition(s) consistent with the universe of discourse of that argument, that each imply the same conclusion.

Origin / Etymology

The word is modelled on dilemma, with di- (“two, twice, double”) replaced by tri- (“three”).

Scrabble Score: 12

trilemma is not valid in Scrabble (US) TWL Dictionary
trilemma is not valid in Scrabble (MW) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
trilemma is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 0

trilemma is not valid in Words With Friends