noun

1. the art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer, so as to determine their validity
2. logical argumentation
3. 1. the method of logic used by Hegel and adapted by Marx to observable social and economic processes: it is based on the principle that an idea or event (thesis) generates its opposite (antithesis), leading to a reconciliation of opposites (synthesis)
   2. the general application of this principle in analysis, criticism, exposition, etc.

Etymology: ME dialetik < OFr dialetique < L dialectica (ars) < Gr dialektikē (technē), the dialectic (art) < dialektikos: see dialect

adjective