reductio ad absurdum

re·duc·ti·o ad ab·sur·dum

R r

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ri-duhk-tee-oh ad ab-sur-duh m, -zur-, -shee-oh]
- /rɪˈdʌk tiˌoʊ ˈæd æbˈsɜr dəm, -ˈzɜr-, -ʃiˌoʊ/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ri-duhk-tee-oh ad ab-sur-duh m, -zur-, -shee-oh]
- /rɪˈdʌk tiˌoʊ ˈæd æbˈsɜr dəm, -ˈzɜr-, -ʃiˌoʊ/

Definitions of reductio ad absurdum words

noun reductio ad absurdum a reduction to an absurdity; the refutation of a proposition by demonstrating the inevitably absurd conclusion to which it would logically lead. 1
noun reductio ad absurdum a method of disproving a proposition by showing that its inevitable consequences would be absurd 0
noun reductio ad absurdum a method of indirectly proving a proposition by assuming its negation to be true and showing that this leads to an absurdity 0
noun reductio ad absurdum application of a principle or proposed principle to an instance in which it is absurd 0
noun reductio ad absurdum the proof of a proposition by showing its opposite to be an obvious falsity or self-contradiction, or the disproof of a proposition by showing its consequences to be impossible or absurd 0

before 1735

One of the 48% newest English words

First recorded in 1735-45, reductio ad absurdum is from the Latin word reductiō ad absurdum

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 1% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

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