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.

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sophism British  

/ ˈsɒfɪzəm /

noun

1. an instance of sophistry Compare paralogism

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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

Explanation

When someone deliberately tries to trick you by making a false statement, that's a sophism. Inventing statistics to back up your personal belief that dogs are smarter than humans is one example of sophism. Fact-checking the statements politicians make is important, in order to uncover sophisms they might be using. If a candidate falsely claims that the crime rate in a city is rising so that he can gain the support of voters who believe he'll be tough on crime, his statement is a sophism. The word comes from the Old French sophime, "fallacy or false argument," and its root, the Greek sophisma, "clever device or stage trick."

Example Sentences

That prompted a Foreign Ministry official to say Pompeo had been “letting loose reckless remarks and sophism of all kinds against us every day.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2019

Mixing his sophism with some cynicism, Galbraith explained that such shyness will be outgrown before long.

From Time Magazine Archive

He says indeed that by experiment only can we distinguish a sophism from a demonstration.

From Science and Medieval Thought The Harveian Oration Delivered Before the Royal College of Physicians, October 18, 1900 by Allbutt, Sir Thomas Clifford

The greatest sophism with which the race has ever been cursed is that hoary one of the lazy preacher: “Do as I say, not as I do.”

From The Heart of Canyon Pass by Holmes, Thomas K.

Timar forgot the sophism that he offered Timéa something besides the treasures which were hers—himself—and in exchange demanded the girl's heart, and that this was a deception, and like taking her by force.

From Timar's Two Worlds by Jókai, Mór