Sophistry

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈsÉ’.fɪ.stɹi/
• US IPA: /ˈsÉ‘.fɪ.stɹi/

Origin

From Old French sophistrie, from Latin sophista, from Ancient Greek σοφιστής ("wise man"), from σοφίζω ("I am wise"), from σοφός ("wise").

Full definition of sophistry

Noun

1. (uncountable) Cunning, sometimes manifested as trickery.
• "Such conduct is at any rate not sophistical, if Aristotle be right in describing sophistry as the art of making money." 1844 - Søren Kierkegaard in Philosophical Fragments (Philosophiske Smuler eller En Smule Philosophi)
2. (uncountable) The art of using deceptive speech or writing.
3. (countable) An argument that seems plausible, but is fallacious or misleading, especially one devised deliberately to be so.

Related terms

• Sophia
• sophism
• sophist
• sophistication