either-or

English

Alternative forms

• either/or

Adjective

either-or (not comparable)

1. Describing a situation in which there are only two choices.
2. Describing a situation in which there is a choice between two different plans of action, but both together are not possible.

Noun

either-or (plural either-ors)

1. A situation in which there is a choice between two different plans of action, but both together are not possible.
   • 2023 March 13, Naureen Khan, “Doug Emhoff Wants Men to Clear the Path for More Kamalas”, in Cosmopolitan‎^[1]:

     “There’s a misperception out there that if some women are succeeding, that if many women are succeeding, it’s at the detriment of men,” he said. “When we support women, as men, it’s a good thing. The more women that succeed, there’s benefits to families, benefits to the economy, and benefits to our country. It’s not an either/or.”

   • 2024 May 13, Becky Tunstall and others, “Letter: Underused housing — why it’s part of the solution too”, in Financial Times‎^[2]:

     Using existing housing better and building new homes are not either/ors but complementary. Doing both will mean a faster (and greener) solution.

Further reading

• “either-or”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.