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pseudoscience

American  
[soo-doh-sahy-uhns] / ˌsu doʊˈsaɪ əns /

noun

  1. any of various methods, theories, or systems, as astrology, psychokinesis, or clairvoyance, considered as having no scientific basis.


pseudoscience British  
/ ˌsjuːdəʊˈsaɪəns /

noun

  1. a discipline or approach that pretends to be or has a close resemblance to science

"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

pseudoscience Cultural  
  1. A system of theories or assertions about the natural world that claim or appear to be scientific but that, in fact, are not. For example, astronomy is a science, but astrology is generally viewed as a pseudoscience.


Other Word Forms

  • pseudoscientific adjective
  • pseudoscientifically adverb
  • pseudoscientist noun

Etymology

Origin of pseudoscience

First recorded in 1835–45; pseudo- + science

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.

“Most of this stuff is approximations. And it’s almost like pseudoscience in a way.”

From MarketWatch

‘We acted like we know all these answers, but actually we don’t. Most of this stuff is approximations. And it’s almost like pseudoscience in a way.’

From MarketWatch

Maggie is probably referring to phrenology, the pseudoscience where head shape is thought to determine personality traits.

From Literature

Here, then, is a sampling of predictions, which range from the discredited to pseudoscience to the bizarre.

From Barron's

Here, then, is a sampling of predictions, which range from the discredited to pseudoscience to the bizarre.

From Barron's