Circularity: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a quality or condition of being circular, often in abstract or theoretical discussions.

• The circularity of their argument made it hard to follow.
• Philosophers often discuss the circularity in reasoning.

Used to describe the general appearance or characteristic of being round, often in a more physical or tangible context.

• The roundness of the fruit made it look very appealing.
• She admired the roundness of the pearls.

Used to describe the quality or state of being spherical, often in scientific, technical, or mathematical contexts.

• The scientist measured the sphericity of the particle.
• Sphericity is an important factor in the design of ball bearings.

Refers to the physical appearance of an object that is round, used in more concrete or straightforward descriptions.

• The circular shape of the clock fits perfectly on the wall.
• We need a circular shape for the base of the lamp.

This is a duplicate of the first 'circularity' entry. Refer to the first definition.

• Repeated as seen: The circularity of the argument made it difficult to understand its point.
• Repeated as seen: Recycling is an important part of promoting circularity in our economy.

Circular reasoning refers to a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is assumed in the premises. This is often criticized as it does not provide any actual evidence or new information.

• His claim that the product is the best because it is made by the best company is an example of circular reasoning.
• She realized that her argument was just circular reasoning and didn't actually prove anything.

A vicious circle is used to describe a negative feedback loop where a situation keeps getting worse due to a series of interconnected problems. The term often implies a sense of entrapment or inevitability in a problem.

• Poverty can create a vicious circle where lack of education leads to poor job prospects, which in turn leads to continued poverty.
• She fell into a vicious circle of stress and sleeplessness, each feeding into the other.