bifurcation

noun

bi·​fur·​ca·​tion ˌbī-(ˌ)fər-ˈkā-shən 

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

Synonyms

• divarication
• divergence
• divergency
• separation

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

An ongoing theme of the post-pandemic recovery has been a widening bifurcation of American household finances. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025

However, the Magnificent 7 stocks have seen internal bifurcation in 2025, showing signs of exhaustion. —Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

China’s development of a separate Internet root system, the digital mechanism that directs online traffic, could be a key step toward a bifurcation of the Internet. —Laura Rosenberger, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2020

Baseball is littered with young stars driving excitement in markets such as Cincinnati, Kansas City and Pittsburgh, but the sport continues to struggle with its massive bifurcation on team spending. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see bifurcate

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bifurcation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation