either-or

1 of 2

noun

ei·​ther-or ˌē-t͟hər-ˈȯr How to pronounce either-or (audio)
 also  ˌī-
: an unavoidable choice or exclusive division between only two alternatives

either-or

2 of 2

adjective

: of or marked by either-or : black-and-white

Examples of either-or in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition, though. Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 Soon after, O’Grady would add a postscript: Western culture is structured by binaries and a logic of either-or — good versus evil, black versus white — that create supremacies. Jillian Steinhauer, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024 Here are three ways to push back against either-or thinking. Aliza Knox, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 On its own, the either-or choice is a compelling argument for those voters who expect Presidents to follow the rules they’re charged with enforcing. Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 Datasets like these don’t come off the shelf and most often require a blend of building and buying, not an either-or scenario. Billee Howard, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 Jenn’s fellow former Bachelor contestants Daisy and Kelsey are there to help guide them through a series of either-or questions that will force them to compromise with one another and, in the process, learn more about each other. Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2024 But the Trump team is wrong to frame this as an either-or proposition. Jake Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2018 The choice between some higher density housing and community interests is not an either-or choice. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1922, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of either-or was in 1922

Dictionary Entries Near either-or

Cite this Entry

“Either-or.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either-or. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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