non sequitur

[ non sek-wi-ter, -toor; Latin nohn se-kwi-toor ]

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.

non sequitur

/ 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

non sequitur

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.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of non sequitur¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of non sequitur¹

Latin, literally: it does not follow

Example Sentences

It is a completely incongruous non sequitur to everything that had transpired before.

From Washington Post

It’s a bizarre non sequitur that feels like Parks flipped through a quote book and sprinkled in a down-homey proverb as an attempt at character development.

From Washington Blade

The sequence is a quiet, meditative and ominous non sequitur about the tragedy of humanity’s longing for meaning or direction.

From Washington Post

There are many talented young winemakers in Champagne approaching their work with an eye toward natural winemaking, although some have argued that the very concept of “natural Champagne” is something of a non sequitur.

From Eater

He said he was living in a valley in Montana, which seemed a non sequitur in that setting.

From The Daily Beast

In a complete non sequitur, Andy Samberg takes on Marky Mark in an SNL skit called “Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals.”

From The Daily Beast

His argument is a total non sequitur: how does Palestinian intransigence justify settlements?

From The Daily Beast

The non-sequitur sum of the movies' parts can be overwhelming.

From The Daily Beast

It's somewhat of a career non sequitur, going from overseas battlefield to deep inside a hidden bureaucracy.

From The Daily Beast

A strange physiological fancy and a very odd non sequitur; but that is not our present point.

From Project Gutenberg

To Fisher's logical mind the proposal that he should apologise was a non sequitur.

From Project Gutenberg

By a series of non sequitur arguments the average disputant succeeds admirably in proving what is foreign to the subject.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll pardon my answer, of course, I was merely trying to top your own non sequitur.

From Project Gutenberg

A positive conclusion is technically known as a Non-Sequitur (Doesn't follow).

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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