1. plural of binarism; systems of thought or classification that divide phenomena into two opposed or mutually exclusive categories.
Usage: academic; often used in critical theory, philosophy, and social studies

Examples

• Postmodern theorists critique the binarisms of Western thought, such as nature versus culture.
• Gender studies scholars challenge traditional binarisms that limit human identity to two categories.
• The text deconstructs binarisms embedded in colonial discourse.
• Binarisms in language often reflect and reinforce social hierarchies.
• Feminist philosophy has questioned the binarisms that structure philosophical inquiry.