argumentum ad hominem
Britishnoun
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fallacious argument that attacks not an opponent's beliefs but his motives or character
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argument that shows an opponent's statement to be inconsistent with his other beliefs
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an instance of either of these
Etymology
Origin of argumentum ad hominem
literally: argument to the person
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.
He’s an intellectual giant, I hardly know whether he is greater as a subjective preacher, or in the luminous objectivity of his argumentum ad hominem.
From Talkers With Illustrations by Bate, John
She was revolving this problem in her youthful mind, and when she replied it was by the argumentum ad hominem, which is an excellent argument and generally ab femina.
From Running Sands by Kauffman, Reginald Wright
But an argumentum ad hominem is never a satisfactory form of reasoning, and it is worth while considering for a moment what is the value of prophecy or foresight in politics.
From A Leap in the Dark A Criticism of the Principles of Home Rule as Illustrated by the Bill of 1893 by Dicey, Albert Venn
This line of defence may, as against Home Rulers, be disposed of at once by an argumentum ad hominem.
From A Leap in the Dark A Criticism of the Principles of Home Rule as Illustrated by the Bill of 1893 by Dicey, Albert Venn
The fallacy in logic known as the argumentum ad hominem becomes a pale thing in comparison with this new argumentum ad terram.
From The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 1 by Baerlein, Henry
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.
