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Fallacies: meaning, definitions and examples

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fallacies

 

[ ˈfæləsiz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

logical reasoning

Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that can undermine the validity of an argument. They often appear persuasive but are based on faulty logic or insufficient evidence. Fallacies can take many forms, including appeals to emotion, straw man arguments, and ad hominem attacks.

Synonyms

deceptive argument, flawed reasoning, logical error.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
fallacies

Use 'fallacies' when referring to misleading or incorrect arguments in a general sense. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • The belief that correlation implies causation is one of the most common fallacies
flawed reasoning

Applicable when pointing out that reasoning is incorrect due to mistakes or logical errors. Suitable for both academic and everyday usage.

  • The paper was rejected due to flawed reasoning in the hypothesis
logical error

Ideal for emphasizing a mistake in the logic or structure of an argument. Commonly used in logical and philosophical discussions.

  • Spotting a logical error early can save researchers a lot of time and effort
deceptive argument

Best used when highlighting that an argument is intentionally misleading. Often implies intent to deceive.

  • His claim that the product was scientifically proven was a deceptive argument, designed to mislead consumers

Examples of usage

  • His argument was full of fallacies, making it difficult to trust his conclusions.
  • She used the fallacy of appeal to authority to convince her audience.

Translations

Translations of the word "fallacies" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falácias

🇮🇳 मिथ्या तर्क

🇩🇪 Trugschlüsse

🇮🇩 kesesatan

🇺🇦 помилки

🇵🇱 błędy

🇯🇵 誤謬

🇫🇷 erreurs

🇪🇸 falacias

🇹🇷 yanılgılar

🇰🇷 오류

🇸🇦 مغالطات

🇨🇿 klamy

🇸🇰 klamlivé argumenty

🇨🇳 谬误

🇸🇮 zmote

🇮🇸 villur

🇰🇿 қателіктер

🇬🇪 მცდარი მოსაზრებები

🇦🇿 yanlışlıqlar

🇲🇽 falacias

Etymology

The term 'fallacy' derives from the Latin word 'fallacia', meaning deceit or trickery. The study of fallacies dates back to ancient Greek philosophy, where philosophers like Aristotle identified and categorized different types of logical errors. Understanding fallacies is essential in critical thinking and argumentation.

See also: fallacious.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,072, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.