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Definition of reductio ad absurdum noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reductio ad absurdum

noun
 
/rɪˌdʌktiəʊ æd æbˈsɜːdəm/
 
/rɪˌdʌktiəʊ æd æbˈsɜːrdəm/
[uncountable, countable] (from Latin, philosophy)
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  1. a method of proving that something is not true by showing that its result is not logical or sensible
    Word OriginLatin, literally ‘reduction to the absurd’.
See reductio ad absurdum in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: reductio ad absurdum

Nearby words

ripple effect
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Change, cause and effect
C2
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