Phrase guide

begging the question

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɛɡɪŋ ðə ˈkwɛst͡ʃən/
  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /-jən/
  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A logical fallacy in which a premise of an argument contains a direct or indirect assumption that the conclusion is true; offering a circular argument; circular reasoning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • It is an instance of begging the question to argue that God can only do good deeds because God is good.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of beg the question.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مُصَادَرَة عَلَى الْمَطْلُوب — fallacy
  • German: Zirkelschluss — fallacy
  • Spanish: petición de principio — fallacy