Definition of SOPHISM

sophism

Plural: sophisms

Noun

  • A plausible but fallacious argument, often used to deceive.
  • a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone
  • The school of the sophists in antiquity; their beliefs and method of teaching philosophy and rhetoric.
  • A flawed argument, superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive.
  • An intentional fallacy.
  • Sophistic, fallacious reasoning or argumentation.
  • Wisdom and knowledge.
  • Archaic spelling of Sufism.

Examples

  • His opponent tried to sneak in a sophism, but the dictionary quickly exposed the invalid word.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English sophim, from Old French soffime, sofime, sofisme, sophisme, from Latin sophisma (“fallacy, sophism”), from Ancient Greek σόφῐσμᾰ (sóphĭsmă), from σοφίζω (sophízō) + -μα (-ma).

Scrabble Score: 14

sophism: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
sophism: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
sophism: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

sophism: valid Words With Friends Word