fallacy
UK: ˈfæləsi | US: ˈfæləsi
n. a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument
n. a deceptive or misleading notion; a logical error
fallacy = fall<deceive> + acy<noun suffix>
- fall<deceive>: From Latin fallere ("to deceive"), reflecting the word’s core idea of deception or error.
- acy<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns denoting a state or quality (e.g., accuracy, supremacy).
Etymology Origin:
The word fallacy traces back to Latin fallacia ("deception"), derived from fallere ("to deceive"). It entered Middle English via Old French fallace, retaining its focus on logical or conceptual deceit. The suffix -acy formalizes the abstract notion of a deceptive state, making it a precise term for flawed reasoning in rhetoric and philosophy.
The argument relies on a common logical fallacy.
Recognizing a fallacy is key to critical thinking.
His speech was full of rhetorical fallacies.
The advertisement exploits a cognitive fallacy.
She exposed the fallacy in their economic theory.