non sequitur

American  

[non sek-wi-ter, -toor, nohn se-kwi-toor] / nɒn ˈsɛk wɪ tər, -ˌtʊər, noʊn ˈsɛ kwɪˌtʊər /

noun

1. Logic.  an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.

2. a statement containing an illogical conclusion.

   The built environment has to be more presentable than it was in the past, but it's a non sequitur to claim that this must occur at the expense of cultural value.

3. something said or written that is unrelated to what immediately precedes.

   Your comment is at best a non sequitur, and bears zero relevance to the issue at point.

4. an illogical or unconnected shift from one thing to another.

   The Tibetan prints to the right of the formal portrait—with their religious figures and mandala-like patterns—initially seem like a non sequitur.

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non sequitur British  

/ ˈnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtə /

noun

1. a statement having little or no relevance to what preceded it

2. logic a conclusion that does not follow from the premises

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non sequitur Cultural  

1. A thought that does not logically follow what has just been said: “We had been discussing plumbing, so her remark about astrology was a real non sequitur.” Non sequitur is Latin for “It does not follow.”

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Etymology

Origin of non sequitur

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin nōn sequitur “it does not follow”

Example Sentences

That seems like a non sequitur, but it is nothing of the kind.

From The Wall Street Journal

Giving meaning to not seeking it may be, beyond all the amazing visuals and striking non sequiturs in his work, Wilson’s ultimate message.

From Los Angeles Times

It was not only a non sequitur — where the money comes from is not the measure of whether rich people controlling government constitutes oligarchy — but it is also a flat-out lie.

From Salon

Here as Alyssa, she pulls off abrupt pivots, exiting one scene with the non sequitur “Is that a pigeon?”

From Los Angeles Times

"The problem is, if you do state funding, then you’re tied to it," she explained, not even bothering to come up with a more plausible-sounding non sequitur.

From Salon

Related Words

• deception
• falsehood
• heresy
• inconsistency
• misinterpretation
• paradox
• untruth