syllogistic

(-tĭ-kəl)
adj.
Of, relating to, resembling, or consisting of a syllogism or syllogisms.

syllogistically syl'lo·gis'ti·cal·ly adv.

(sil-uh-JIS-tik)

adjective
1. Of or relating to syllogism (a form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion).
2. Subtle or specious.

noun
1. Deductive reasoning.
2. A subtle or specious piece of reasoning.

Etymology
Via Middle English, French, and Latin from Greek syllogizesthai (to syllogize). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leg- (to collect, speak) that is also the source of other words such as lexicon, lesson, lecture, legible, legal, and select

Usage
"To suggest that all this means, ipso facto, the media are politically biased in their news coverage is syllogistic reasoning at its worst." — David Shaw; The More Pernicious Bias is Less Substance, More Fluff; Los Angeles Times; Jan 19, 2003.

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For more information on syllogistic, visit Britannica.com.

Verlyn Klinkenborg, the "editorial observer" of The New York Times, mused on the vastness of time, then launched a broadside at the theory of intelligent design, which, he wrote:

"is not a theory at all... but a well-financed political and religious campaign to muddy science... Its objections to evolution are based on syllogistic reasoning and a highly selective treatment of the physical evidence. "

Link: Grasping the Depth of Time as a First Step in Understanding Evolution

Posted August 24, 2005.

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The adjective has one meaning:

Meaning #1: of or relating to or consisting of syllogism
  Pertains to noun: syllogism (meaning #1)

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