sophism
Americannoun
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a specious argument for displaying ingenuity in reasoning or for deceiving someone.
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any false argument; fallacy.
noun
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an instance of sophistry Compare paralogism
Other Word Forms
- antisophism noun
Etymology
Origin of sophism
1300–50; < Latin sophisma sophistry < Greek sóphisma originally, acquired skill, method, derivative of sophízesthai to act the sophist, become wise; replacing earlier sophim, Middle English < Middle French sophime < Latin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That prompted a Foreign Ministry official to say Pompeo had been “letting loose reckless remarks and sophism of all kinds against us every day.”
From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2019
Mixing his sophism with some cynicism, Galbraith explained that such shyness will be outgrown before long.
From Time Magazine Archive
The greatest sophism with which the race has ever been cursed is that hoary one of the lazy preacher: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
From The Heart of Canyon Pass by Holmes, Thomas K.
This sophism imposed upon a portion of the patriots of that day.
From Report of the Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott versus John F.A. Sandford December Term, 1856. by Howard, Benjamin C.
This poor sophism has been adopted by Mr. Locke, and seriously employed to prove that human volitions “cannot be free.”
From An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will by Bledsoe, Albert Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.