sophistry

(sŏf'ĭ-strē)
n., pl., -tries.

1. Plausible but fallacious argumentation.
2. A plausible but misleading or fallacious argument.

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noun

Plausible but invalid reasoning: casuistry, fallacy, sophism, speciousness, spuriousness. See correct/incorrect, true/false.

deceptively subtle reasoning or argumentation; an argument used to deceive

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

n.

The controversial method of an opponent, distinguished from one's own by superior insincerity and fooling. This method is that of the later Sophists, a Grecian sect of philosophers who began by teaching wisdom, prudence, science, art and, in brief, whatever men ought to know, but lost themselves in a maze of quibbles and a fog of words.

    His bad opponent's "facts" he sweeps away,
    And drags his sophistry to light of day;
    Then swears they're pushed to madness who resort
    To falsehood of so desperate a sort.
    Not so; like sods upon a dead man's breast,
    He lies most lightly who the least is pressed.
                                                        Polydore Smith

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IN BRIEF: An argument that is sound in appearance only.

Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. — John Adams (1735-1826).

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For a list of words related to sophistry, see:

• Notions, Ideas, and Methods - sophistry: use of persuasive but misleading or unsound argument
• Falsehood, Pretense, and Exaggeration - sophistry: false though apparently valid argument used to deceive
• Reason and Rationale - sophistry: deceptive or fallacious reasoning

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See words rhyming with "sophistry."

Dansk (Danish)
n. - sofisteri

Nederlands (Dutch)
spitsvondigheid, sofistiek

Français (French)
n. - sophisme

Deutsch (German)
n. - Sophisterei

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σοφιστεία, σοφιστική, μέθοδος των σοφιστών

Italiano (Italian)
sofisma

Português (Portuguese)
n. - sofística (f), sofisma (m)

Русский (Russian)
софистика, софизм

Español (Spanish)
n. - sofistería, sofisma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - sofisteri, spetsfynderi, ordklyveri

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
诡辩, 谬论, 诡辩法

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 詭辯, 謬論, 詭辯法

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 궤변, 궤변법, 억지 이론

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 詭弁法, 詭弁

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مغالطه, سفسطه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פלפלנות, נימוק מטעה, הטעיה, סופיזם‬

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