sophistry
SOF-ih-streenounMeaning clever-sounding reasoning that is false or misleading
Memory hook SOPHISTicated-sounding, but FALSE. Sami proves at the board that cats have four legs, his dog has four legs, so his dog must be a cat; it sounds clever, but it is sophistry.
His argument that homework is bad because it wastes pencils was pure sophistry.
In context The lawyer’s case sounded brilliant at first, but it was sophistry: each step seemed logical, yet together they proved something everyone knew was false.
Similar false reasoning, casuistry, specious argument
Opposite sound reasoning, logic
From sophist, from Greek sophistes, “an expert, a wise man”; some teachers called sophists in ancient Greece became known for tricky arguments.