fallacious
UK: fəˈleɪ.ʃəs | US: fəˈleɪ.ʃəs
adj. based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning; misleading or deceptive
adj. containing logical fallacies; invalid in argumentation
fallacious = fall<deceive> + acious<adjective suffix>
- fall<deceive>: From Latin fallere ("to deceive, disappoint"), reflecting the core idea of deception.
- acious<adjective suffix>: A suffix derived from Latin -ax (-acis), forming adjectives meaning "inclined to" or "full of."
Etymology Origin:
The word fallacious traces back to Latin fallacia ("deception, trick"), rooted in fallere ("to deceive"). The suffix -acious intensifies the meaning, creating an adjective that describes something inherently deceptive or logically flawed. The term evolved in English (early 17th century) to describe arguments or beliefs that mislead through false reasoning, preserving its original connection to deceit.
The politician’s fallacious claims were quickly debunked by fact-checkers.
Her argument seemed persuasive but was ultimately fallacious.
The advertisement relied on fallacious statistics to mislead consumers.
Detectives warned against drawing fallacious conclusions from incomplete evidence.
Critical thinking helps identify fallacious reasoning in everyday debates.