Fallacious
/fəˈleɪʃəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Fallacious describes an idea, argument, or belief that is incorrect because it is based on wrong thinking or false information. It often means that something seems true but is actually misleading or untrue because of errors in reasoning.
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See It in Action
Based on wrong reasoning or logic
- •His argument was fallacious because it ignored important facts.
- •The advertisement made fallacious claims about the product’s benefits.
- •It is fallacious to think that all expensive things are better.
Misleading or deceptive in nature
- •The fallacious belief that money brings happiness can cause problems.
- •She was convinced by a fallacious idea that success comes without hard work.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fallacious" like "wrong," but more about a mistake in thinking or logic, not just simple error
- ✓Picture a broken puzzle where the pieces look like they fit but actually don’t, creating a false picture
- ✓It's the feeling when you believe something that sounds true, but later you find out it was a trick or mistake
- ✓Sounds like "fall-a-shus" → imagine something falling apart because it is not stable or true
- ✓Think of a magician’s trick that looks real but is actually an illusion—fallacious ideas trick your mind
- ✓NOT like "false" (which means simply not true), "fallacious" means the idea is wrong because the thinking or reason behind it is bad
- ✓NOT like "mistaken" (a simple error), fallacious often means the error is in the way of thinking or argument, not just a small slip
- ✓NOT like "true" or "correct" — fallacious is always about something wrong or misleading
Try Other Words
- •Incorrect: not true or right (Use when you want a general word for something that is not correct)
- •False: not true or real (Use when something is untrue or deliberately untrue)
- •Misleading: giving the wrong idea or impression (Use when something makes you believe something that is not true)
- •Invalid: not logically correct (Use especially for arguments or reasoning that do not follow correct logic)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "fal-" from Latin "fallere" meaning "to deceive" or "to trick"
- •Root: related to "fallacy," meaning a wrong or deceptive idea or argument
- •Suffix: "-ious" meaning "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "fallax" meaning deceptive, lying; entered English in the late 1500s
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe deceit or trickery, now often used for wrong reasoning or false ideas
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe arguments, ideas, or beliefs that are logically incorrect or misleading
Reflect & Connect
•Can an idea be fallacious even if many people believe it? Why or why not?
•How can understanding fallacious reasoning help you make better decisions or avoid mistakes?
Fill in the blanks
1.The politician’s fallacious argument ___ the audience by using false facts and wrong reasoning.
2.Believing that more money always leads to happiness is a ___ fallacious idea.
3.Unlike true facts, fallacious claims are based on ___ or incorrect logic.
4.When someone uses fallacious reasoning, they often ___ important information to make their point.
5.The advertisement was full of fallacious statements designed to ___ customers.
6.You should be careful not to accept fallacious arguments without ___ them carefully.
7.A fallacious argument usually ___ a mistake in how someone thinks, not just a small error.