Standard Lemma guide
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.
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noun
Alternative letter-case form of Sophist, certain teachers in Ancient Greece, particularly skilled orators.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A teacher who uses plausible but fallacious reasoning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sophister
Antonyms: none provided
noun
One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: logic chopper, pilpulist, sophister
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Synonym of sophister (“university student who has completed at least one year”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sophister
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A teacher in Ancient Greece, particularly (derogatory) teachers of oratory noted for their disingenuous argumentation and fallacious reasoning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sophister
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Alternative letter-case form of sophist, various figurative senses.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, derogatory
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: casuist
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: reasoner, ratiocinator
noun
any of a group of Greek philosophers and teachers in the 5th century BC who speculated on a wide range of subjects
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: philosopher
History
Learned borrowing from Latin sophista and sophistes, borrowed from Ancient Greek σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “wise one”), from σοφίζομαι (sophízomai, “to become wise”).
Across languages
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
