Meaning 1formal · 90%
Reasoning that sounds persuasive but relies on deceptive or invalid arguments.
Natural examples
The senator’s explanation relied on sophistry rather than evidence.
Students learned to distinguish rigorous reasoning from sophistry.
No amount of sophistry can justify the deception.
Usage note
Sophistry criticizes the quality or honesty of the argument, not simply its complexity.
Useful combinations
mere sophistry — argument dismissed as deceptively clever