fallacy

CEFRC2

/ˈfæl.ə.si/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A mistaken belief or an argument based on bad reasoning.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a specious argument.

Examples

  • That's not a valid argument. It's a logical fallacy.

  • This is a fallacy.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Deceptive or false appearance; that which misleads the eye or the mind.

More examples

In context

  • I no longer believe in happiness, because I see the fallacy of my first belief; and the examination which that induced, has shewn me the fallacy of all. Shew me a heart without its hidden wound.

  • Baldridge also showed the "one molecule of blood," usually held to be the stimulus for attracting sharks, to be another common fallacy, since a molecule of blood does not exist.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The idea that money brings happiness is a common blank many people hold.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English fallaci, fallace, fallas, from Old French fallace, from Latin fallācia (“deception, deceit”), from fallāx (“deceptive, deceitful”), from fallere (“to deceive”).