Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SOPHISTRY
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pronounce
SOPHISTRY:
Say it "SOFF ih stree."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Here's the Professor on Futurama, calling out Bubblegum Tate for his sophistry (his scholarly-sounding nonsense):
By definition, sophistry is all razzmatazz: it's fa____ious, or wrong and illogical, tricking people into thinking the wrong thing.
Can you recall that word with the blanks? It's three syllables, and it rhymes with--but is nearly the opposite of--sagacious.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
Our word "sophistry" traces back to a Greek one meaning "skilled or clever," which is why it resembles words like "sophisticated," "philosopher," and "sophomore" (literally an "arguer" but widely believed to mean a "wise fool"), as well as names like Sophie and Sophocles.
In English, the word "sophist" first simply meant "a scholar, or a teacher." But because a scholar might use clever reasoning to deceive people, the meaning of "sophist" gradually changed, and today, a sophist is a person who uses illogical reasoning or arguments, usually on purpose, in order to trick people.
"Sophistry," then, is illogical reasoning or arguments, usually the kind that tricks people on purpose.
Or, it's the use of illogical reasoning or arguments, usually the kind that tricks people on purpose.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, both the countable kind ("his sophistries") and the uncountable kind ("her sophistry").
Other forms:
Sophist(s), sophism(s).
how to use it:
"Sophistry" is a scholarly, semi-common word with a negative tone.
If you refer to someone's comments, beliefs, arguments, or publications as sophistry, you're dismissing what they've said or written as not just false but also deceptive.
You might talk about someone using sophistry, resorting to sophistry, detecting or rejecting sophistry, etc.
examples:
"Those 'debates' are political theater, sophistry bordering on and often crossing over into outright buffoonery."
— Chauncey Devega, Salon, 22 January 2020
"For years, she thought, if she studied the Bible hard enough she might work out the contradictions. 'But then, as I increasingly saw what I thought was sophistry and lies, I thought: I can't abide this. I can't remain with this. This is crazy. There is no basis in scripture for any anointed hierarchy, let alone a male hierarchy. It's just not there.'"
— Anne Rice, as quoted by Emma Brockes, The Guardian, 24 October 2010
has this page helped you understand "sophistry"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "sophistry" without saying "intellectual trickery" or "subtle deception."
try it out:
Sometimes, we just want to call something a load of bull. But that's rude. "Sophistry" is a much more polite term.
The Los Angeles Times used it, very politely, in a book review:
"[Eula Biss] is a vigorous advocate for inoculation; throughout the book, she reveals the rhetoric of the anti-vaccination movement for the sophistry it is."
That is, the rhetoric of the anti-vaccination movement is a load of bull.
With the anti-vaccine movement in mind as an example, talk about another idea, claim, or movement that strikes you as a big old steaming pile of sophistry.
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for February is "Piece It Together."
Use your knowledge of the given terms to define a related, ultra-rare term.
For example, you could use your knowledge of CELLULAR and MULTUM IN PARVO ("a lot in a little") to define the ultra-rare PARVOCELLULAR as "small-celled."
To see the answer, scroll all the way down. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
Use FOOLISH and AMOUR PROPRE to define AMOUR FOU.
review this word:
A. LOGOS (logical argument).
B. ETHOS (character-based argument).
C. PATHOS (emotional argument).
2. We _____ her post as sophistry.
A. cheered
B. dismissed
C. dissected
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Here's the Professor on Futurama, calling out Bubblegum Tate for his sophistry (his scholarly-sounding nonsense):
Our word "sophistry" traces back to a Greek one meaning "skilled or clever," which is why it resembles words like "sophisticated," "philosopher," and "sophomore" (literally an "arguer" but widely believed to mean a "wise fool"), as well as names like Sophie and Sophocles.
Part of speech:
"Sophistry" is a scholarly, semi-common word with a negative tone.
"Those 'debates' are political theater, sophistry bordering on and often crossing over into outright buffoonery."
Explain the meaning of "sophistry" without saying "intellectual trickery" or "subtle deception."
Sometimes, we just want to call something a load of bull. But that's rude. "Sophistry" is a much more polite term.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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