noun
sophistry
Sophistry (noun) means the behaviour or arguments typical of a sophist.
noun
1
The behaviour or arguments typical of a sophist.
2
Reasoning that sounds convincing but is actually wrong.
3
A single argument that seems believable but is false or misleading, often on purpose.
"And so he reasoned until the first generous impulse to proclaim the truth and relinquish his titles and his estates to their rightful owner was forgotten beneath the mass of sophistries which self-interest had advanced."
— Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan (1913)
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Etymology
Comes from Middle English safistre, soffistre, sofystry, sophestrie, sophestry, sophestrye, sophistre, sophistri, sophistrie, sophistry, sophistrye and sophystrye, from Old French sofisterie and sophistrie and Medieval Latin sophistria and Anglo-Latin sophestria, from Latin sophista, from Ancient Greek σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “wise man”), from σοφίζω (sophízō, “to be wise”), from σοφός (sophós, “wise”); equivalent to sophist + -ry.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sophistry
See all rhymes for sophistry →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of sophistry?
"sophistry" (noun) means the behaviour or arguments typical of a sophist.
What is another word for sophistry?
Other words for "sophistry" include sophism, sophistication.
What are the different meanings of sophistry?
"sophistry" has 3 main meanings: 1. The behaviour or arguments typical of a sophist; 2. Reasoning that sounds convincing but is actually wrong; 3. A single argument that seems believable but is false or misleading, often on purpose.
