syllogism

[ sil-uh-jiz-uh m ]

/ ˈsɪl əˌdʒɪz əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR syllogism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Logic. an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one (major premise) contains the term (major term) that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other (minor premise) contains the term (minor term) that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term (middle term) that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is “All A is C; all B is A; therefore all B is C.”

deductive reasoning.

an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument.

Nearby words

syllabogram, syllabography, syllabub, syllabus, syllepsis, syllogism, syllogist, syllogistic, syllogize, sylph, sylphid

Origin of syllogism

1350–1400; < Latin syllogismus < Greek syllogismós, equivalent to syllog- (see syllogize) + -ismos -ism; replacing Middle English silogime < Old French < Latin, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for syllogism

I thought I would be protected by historical precision, reputation, syllogism and sincerity.
Real Life, not “Counterlife”|Bernard Avishai|April 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the syllogism already given, 'Every man is mortal' is the major premiss; 'Socrates is a man' is the minor premiss.
Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will|Joseph Haven
The result of this process is an argument expressed in what is called a Syllogism.
The Art of Logical Thinking|William Walker Atkinson
In every syllogism is first a fundamental proposition; secondly, another deduced from it; and, thirdly, the consequence.
The World's Greatest Books--Volume 14--Philosophy and Economics|Various

But a pundit passing by, said: His meditation can be of nothing but the syllogism and its members.
Bubbles of the Foam|Unknown
In the bald, simple forms here set down, the syllogism and enthymeme are hardly suited to delivery in speeches.
Public Speaking|Clarence Stratton

British Dictionary definitions for syllogism

syllogism

/ (ˈsɪləˌdʒɪzəm) /

noun

a deductive inference consisting of two premises and a conclusion, all of which are categorial propositions. The subject of the conclusion is the minor term and its predicate the major term; the middle term occurs in both premises but not the conclusion. There are 256 such arguments but only 24 are valid. Some men are mortal; some men are angelic; so some mortals are angelic is invalid, while some temples are in ruins; all ruins are fascinating; so some temples are fascinating is valid. Here fascinating, in ruins, and temples are respectively major, middle, and minor terms

a deductive inference of certain other forms with two premises, such as the hypothetical syllogism, if P then Q; if Q then R; so if P then R

a piece of deductive reasoning from the general to the particular

a subtle or deceptive piece of reasoning

Word Origin for syllogism

C14: via Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai to reckon together, from sul- syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos a discourse

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