Words / C2

SOF-istr-ee/ˈsɒfɪstri/

Sophistry is clever but false or misleading reasoning (formal / disapproving): mere sophistry, a piece of sophistry. Argument is everyday and neutral; specious (this batch) is the adjective for a claim that looks sound. A fallacy is a faulty pattern of inference. Do not dress “lean” as sophistry that deletes the night bus.

Meaning

Clever but false or misleading reasoning (formal / disapproving).

Examples

• “Sophistry about “lean” does not restore the night bus.”
• “Argument is everyday (already in the dictionary). Specious is apparently reasonable (this batch). Tendentious is partisan (already in C2). A numbered comparison can be sharp and still dated. Wordplay that hides an empty post is the vice. Name the bus; then argue the budget.”

Good to know

Clever, dishonest argument. Everyday: bad argument / spin. Close adjective: specious (this batch). Contrast: tendentious (partisan — already in C2). Lean ≠ an empty night bus.

Near in meaning

argument

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