casuist

[ kazh-oo-ist ]

/ ˈkæʒ u ɪst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for casuist on Thesaurus.com

noun

an oversubtle or disingenuous reasoner, especially in questions of morality.

a person who studies and resolves moral problems of judgment or conduct arising in specific situations.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of casuist

1600–10; <Spanish casuista<Latin cāsu(s) case¹ + -ista-ist

Words nearby casuist

casually, casualty, casualty insurance, casualwear, casuarina, casuist, casuistic, casuistry, casus belli, cat, cata-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use casuist in a sentence

Mr. Tallmadge's desire not to be interrupted in the act might have enlightened him as to its defensibility; but he was no casuist.
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins
She would have made a good man of business—an acute lawyer—a fine casuist—a great divine.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXVIII. February, 1843. Vol. LIII.|Various
No interpretation509 can mistake it; no casuist can doubt upon it; it is a work well done.
A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention|Lucius Eugene Chittenden
The city casuist might have smiled at the major premise—and laughed at the ingenuous conclusion.
McClure's Magazine, January, 1896, Vol. VI. No. 2|Various

Many others are put so as to suggest what the casuist never said, that is a special case is made a general rule of morals.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for casuist

casuist

/ (ˈkæzjʊɪst) /

noun

a person, esp a theologian, who attempts to resolve moral dilemmas by the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases

a person who is oversubtle in his or her analysis of fine distinctions; sophist

Derived forms of casuist

casuistic or casuistical, adjectivecasuistically, adverb

Word Origin for casuist

C17: from French casuiste, from Spanish casuista, from Latin cāsus case 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

casuist

Origin of casuist

Words nearby casuist

Words related to casuist

How to use casuist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for casuist

Derived forms of casuist

Word Origin for casuist