fallacy Definition
fal·lacy (fal′ə sē)
noun pl. -·cies
- Obsolete deception
- aptness to mislead; deceptive or delusive quality the fallacy of the senses
- a false or mistaken idea, opinion, etc.; error
- an error in reasoning; flaw or defect in argument
- Logic an argument which does not conform to the rules of logic, esp. one that appears to be sound
Etymology: ME fallace < OFr < L fallacia, deception, artifice < fallax (gen. fallacis), deceitful < fallere, to deceive: see fail
fallacy Synonyms
fallacy
n.
An error in reasoning
inconsistency, illogicality, sophism, sophistry, casuistry, quibble, quibbling, evasion, deceit, deception, delusion, equivocation, subterfuge, Jesuitry, misinterpretation, erroneousness, inexactness, error, deviation from truth, perversion, bias, prejudice, preconception, non sequitur, deceptive belief, deceptiveness, aberration, falsity, false notion, misleading appearance, illusion, speciousness, equivoke, artifice, ambiguity, solecism, paradox, miscalculation, quirk, flaw, cavil, irrelevancy, erratum, invalidity, heresy, heterodoxy. A mistaken idea
misconception, misapprehension, delusion; see error 1, mistake 2.
fallacy Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- argument: The work also amply demonstrates the fallacy of that argument.
- theory: The fallacy of dependency theory has been demonstrated by sociologist Peter Berger of Boston University.
- composition: This is an error ( the fallacy of composition ).
Converse of object
- expose: Joe Cummins has exposed the fallacy of this claim [ 3 ] .
- commit: RESPONSE: Bravo commits the fallacy of false analogy.
- demonstrate: The work also amply demonstrates the fallacy of that argument.
- illustrate: This illustrates the fallacy of treating acute disturbance in this manner.
- examine: Vaughan Waller examines the fallacies and the business case for the acquisition of a learning management system.
- avoid: This is why Moore's own view of goodness as sui generis and irreducible is supposed to avoid the naturalistic fallacy.
Noun used with modifier
- rate: Keywords: Base rate fallacy, Bayes ' theorem, decision making, ecological validity, ethics, fallacy, judgment, probability.
- base: Keywords: Base rate fallacy, Bayes ' theorem, decision making, ecological validity, ethics, fallacy, judgment, probability.
- value: Fifth, the whole thing involves the extreme value fallacy.
- technology: Social engineering fits into the paradigm of the trusted technology fallacy quite well, actually.
Adjective modifier
- naturalistic: So the so-called naturalistic fallacy is no fallacy at all.
- pathetic: I've always been a big fan of the pathetic fallacy, unlike Ruskin, who coined the term.
- exegetical: Some Common Exegetical Fallacies Unfortunately, each of the principles of interpretation we have considered may be abused in various ways.
- logical: Ah, the logical fallacy of " You prove it first.
- intentional: A popular expression often used to argue against the view that the author is the determiner of meaning is the " intentional fallacy.
- ecological: The ' ecological fallacy ' is a statement about ' ecological correlation ' , not about ecology in itself.
Preposition: in
argument: The fallacy in this argument is that such a treaty is practically unenforceable.
Browse dictionary entries near fallacy
- ‹ fallacious
- ‹ Falla
- ‹ fall to
- ‹ fall short
- ‹ Fall River
- ‹ fall out
- ‹ fall on
- ‹ fall off
- ‹ fall line
- ‹ fall in
- fallback ›
- fallback modem ›
- fallen ›
- fallen angel ›
- faller ›
- fallfish ›
- fallibility ›
- fallible ›
- falling ›
- falling-out ›

