REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does reductio ad absurdum mean? 

• REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM (noun)
  The noun REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM has 1 sense:

1. (reduction to the absurd) a disproof by showing that the consequences of the proposition are absurd; or a proof of a proposition by showing that its negation leads to a contradiction

  Familiarity information: REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(reduction to the absurd) a disproof by showing that the consequences of the proposition are absurd; or a proof of a proposition by showing that its negation leads to a contradiction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

reductio; reductio ad absurdum

Hypernyms ("reductio ad absurdum" is a kind of...):

disproof; falsification; refutation (any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something)