A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
"The manager faced a dilemma when he had to decide whether to lay off experienced staff or cut the company's research budget, both options threatening the firm's future stability."
In plain English: A dilemma is a tough situation where you have to choose between two bad options and don't want either of them.
"She faced a dilemma when she had to choose between accepting her dream job in another city and staying close to her aging parents."
Usage: Use dilemma to describe situations where you face two difficult choices, rather than simply having many options available. Avoid using it for minor inconveniences; the word implies genuine difficulty with both potential outcomes.
The word "dilemma" entered English in 1523 via Late Latin and Ancient Greek. It originally referred to an ambiguous proposition that presents a choice between two premises or options.