sophistry

[ sof-uh-stree ]
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noun,plural soph·ist·ries.
  1. a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.

  2. a false argument; sophism.

Origin of sophistry

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sophistrie, (from Middle French ), equivalent to sophistre “sophist” (see sophister) + -ie -y3, from Medieval Latin sophistria , from Latin sophista, sophistes; see origin at sophist

Other words from sophistry

  • an·ti·soph·ist·ry, noun

Words Nearby sophistry

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How to use sophistry in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sophistry

sophistry

/ (ˈsɒfɪstrɪ) /


nounplural -ries
    • a method of argument that is seemingly plausible though actually invalid and misleading

    • the art of using such arguments

  1. subtle but unsound or fallacious reasoning

  1. an instance of this; sophism

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