1. divided into three parts or categories
Usage: formal; academic
2. branching into three divisions
Usage: botanical; technical

Examples

• The philosopher proposed a trichotomous classification of human knowledge.
• The survey used a trichotomous scale with options for agree, neutral, and disagree.
• The plant displayed trichotomous branching at each node.
• Her trichotomous approach divided the problem into three distinct categories.
• The trichotomous structure of the argument made it easy to follow.
• Botanists noted the trichotomous pattern in the leaf arrangement.