Word
fallacious
Phoneticsfal·la·cious, stress on the second syllable
US/fəˈɫeɪʃəs/
UK/fælˈeɪʃəs/
Definition
adj. based on wrong thinking or false reasons, so it looks true but is not. You use it for arguments or ideas that sound right but have a hidden mistake.
adj. containing a logical error or based on unsound reasoning, so that the conclusion does not follow. Often describes arguments, claims, or beliefs that appear valid but are misleading.
Examples
“That is a fallacious argument with no real proof.”
“The lawyer showed the jury why the fallacious claim about the contract could not be trusted.”
“The editorial exposed the fallacious assumption that rising house prices alone prove a healthy economy, ignoring wage stagnation and debt.”
Examples
simple
“That is a fallacious argument with no real proof.”
contextual
“The lawyer showed the jury why the fallacious claim about the contract could not be trusted.”
complex
“The editorial exposed the fallacious assumption that rising house prices alone prove a healthy economy, ignoring wage stagnation and debt.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fallacious” in context.
Verb
01. consider fallacious
“Many economists consider his argument fallacious.”
verb + adj
02. denounce as fallacious
“Critics denounced the theory as fallacious.”
verb + prep + adj
03. dismiss as fallacious
“The committee dismissed the objection as fallacious.”
verb + prep + adj
04. expose as fallacious
“The review exposed his logic as fallacious.”
verb + prep + adj
Adjective
05. demonstrably fallacious
“His claim about vaccines is demonstrably fallacious and contradicted by data.”
adv + adj
06. entirely fallacious
“The opposition dismissed the report as entirely fallacious.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. fallacious argument
“The essay relies on a fallacious argument about immigration.”
adj + noun
08. fallacious assumption
“His conclusion rests on the fallacious assumption that prices will never rise.”
adj + noun
09. a fundamentally fallacious argument
“This is a fundamentally fallacious argument that confuses cause and effect.”
10. based on fallacious reasoning
“The verdict was based on fallacious reasoning and was later overturned.”
11. dismiss the argument as fallacious
“Scholars dismissed the argument as fallacious after checking the data.”
12. expose the logic as fallacious
“The debate exposed the logic as fallacious within minutes.”
Etymology
From Middle English fallacious; equivalent to fallacy + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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