noun

non sequitur

non SEK-wi-ter

Non sequitur (noun) means a statement or reply that does not follow logically from what came before, so that the connection is missing or absurd. Example: “Asked about the budget, he answered with a non sequitur about his childhood.”

noun

A statement or reply that does not follow logically from what came before, so that the connection is missing or absurd.

"Asked about the budget, he answered with a non sequitur about his childhood."

"The film ends on a complete non sequitur."

formal In logic, an argument whose conclusion does not follow from its premises.

""He is rich, therefore he is wise" is a plain non sequitur."

How to use non sequitur

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething said that has nothing to do with what was just said.

When to use it

Educated and slightly formal, but common in journalism and reviews as well as in philosophy.

Memory tip

Keep it two separate words and give it an ordinary English plural: non sequiturs, not non sequitura.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

red herring → straw man tangent → circular reasoning

Common pairings

a complete non sequitur answered with a non sequitur that's a non sequitur

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Asked about the budget, he answered with a _____ about his childhood.

Etymology

Latin for "it does not follow", from non "not" and sequitur "it follows", from sequi "to follow".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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irrelevance tangent logical leap fallacy invalid inference

Related words

fail myth relevance fallacy tangent irrelevance

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a non sequitur and a red herring?

A non sequitur simply fails to connect: the conclusion or reply does not follow from what preceded it, usually through muddle. A red herring is deliberate — an irrelevance introduced to draw attention away from the real question.

How do you pronounce non sequitur?

Most English speakers say non SEK-wi-ter, stressing the second syllable of sequitur. A classical Latin pronunciation would be non SEK-wi-toor, but that is rare in English conversation.

Is non sequitur hyphenated or italicised?

It is written as two words with no hyphen, and it is now naturalised enough in English that italics are unnecessary. The plural is non sequiturs.

What is the meaning of non sequitur?

"non sequitur" (noun) means a statement or reply that does not follow logically from what came before, so that the connection is missing or absurd.

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