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Synonyms

sophism

American  
[sof-iz-uhm] / ˈsɒf ɪz əm /

noun

  1. a specious argument for displaying ingenuity in reasoning or for deceiving someone.

  2. any false argument; fallacy.

sophism British  
/ ˈsɒfɪzəm /

noun

  1. an instance of sophistry Compare paralogism

"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

Other Word Forms

  • antisophism noun

Etymology

Origin of sophism

1300–50; < Latin sophisma sophistry < Greek sóphisma originally, acquired skill, method, derivative of sophízesthai to act the sophist, become wise; replacing earlier sophim, Middle English < Middle French sophime < Latin

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.