sophism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a clever-seeming but invalid argument, often used deliberately to deceive

   The claim that every critic is an enemy is a transparent sophism.

2. 2
   noun

   the doctrines or argumentative methods associated with the ancient Greek Sophists

   The dialogue attacks sophism as rhetoric detached from truth.

From Middle English sophime and Old French sophisme, from Latin sophisma, from Ancient Greek sophisma ("clever device, fallacy"), from sophizesthai ("to become wise; devise cleverly"). Its negative sense reflects distrust of arguments that display ingenuity without truth.

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