WordGarden.iofallacious
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fælˈeɪʃəs/
US
- /fəˈleɪʃəs/
Meanings
Adjective
based on faulty reasoning or a mistaken belief
Beyond the definition
Imagine building a house of cards. It looks solid for a moment, but it stands on weak support and can fall apart quickly. That's what "fallacious" is like. It describes an argument, belief, or claim that may sound right at first, but is actually based on bad reasoning or false ideas.
You might hear someone make a fallacious claim in a debate, using a weak point instead of real evidence. Or you might see a fallacious advertisement promising amazing results with no proof. It sounds convincing on the surface, but it does not stand up when you look at it closely.
The word "fallacious" describes something that contains a mistake in reasoning, so the argument or idea does not really hold together. It is more than simply wrong; it suggests that the reasoning sounds convincing even though it has a serious flaw. The root comes from the Latin "fallere," meaning to deceive or mislead.
A fallacious argument is not always intentionally dishonest, but it depends on weak assumptions, irrelevant details, or logical mistakes. For example, saying "Everyone is doing it, so it must be right" is a fallacious appeal to popularity. In the same way, assuming that because two things happened at the same time, one caused the other is also fallacious reasoning.
You'll often meet this word in formal settings such as debates, legal arguments, philosophy, and media analysis. It helps explain how an argument fails, not just that it fails.
"The politician's claims were riddled with fallacious statements," suggests a pattern of misleading reasoning. "She quickly identified the fallacious premise underlying his entire theory."
So when something does not quite add up, and the logic feels off, you may be dealing with something fallacious - an argument built on shaky ground that starts to crumble under careful examination.
Examples
- 1
Health advertising
The advertisement made a fallacious claim that the pills could help everyone lose weight.
- 2
Argument comparison
Her argument sounds convincing at first, but it is based on a fallacious comparison.
- 3
Public debate
The report was criticized for using fallacious reasoning to link immigration with rising crime.
- 4
Classroom assumption
It is fallacious to assume that a quiet student has nothing to say.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fallaciousadjective