# Logos

/ˈɫoʊˌɡoʊz/ (US) · /lˈəʊɡəʊz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/logos
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. logical persuasion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the use of logic and facts to persuade people in a speech or piece of writing.

For teachers: a rhetorical appeal based on logic, reasoning, and evidence rather than emotion or character.

- The lawyer used logos to prove his case with clear facts and dates.
- While the speaker's emotional appeals were moving, it was his mastery of logos that finally convinced the board to approve the budget.

Usage: Often contrasted with 'ethos' and 'pathos' in rhetorical analysis.

### 2. universal reason

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

the idea in ancient philosophy that a rational force or logic controls the universe.

For teachers: the rational principle that governs and develops the universe in Ancient Greek philosophy.

- The Stoic philosophers believed that the logos kept the world in balance.
- Heraclitus described the logos as an objective, universal law that most people fail to perceive despite its constant presence.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly specialized; learners will mostly encounter it in academic texts about history or philosophy.

### 3. the divine Word

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the Word of God, often used to refer to Jesus Christ in Christian teaching.

For teachers: the Word of God as the creative and controlling force of the universe, specifically identified with the second person of the Trinity.

- The Gospel of John begins by describing the logos as being with God.
- Theologians have spent centuries debating the precise relationship between the eternal logos and the historical person of Jesus.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'Logos' in this sense.

## Examples

- He used logos to explain his complex idea.
- The speaker relied on logos rather than emotion to persuade the audience.
- Aristotle distinguished logos from ethos and pathos as the primary mode of rational persuasion in rhetoric.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.