Dictionary

ad hominem en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Ellipsis of the Latin expression argumentum ad hominem (“argument at the person”). It can also mean attacking the messenger.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of or relating to this kind of fallacious objection.
   • Well that's an ad hominem argument.

ad hominem en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Ellipsis of the Latin expression argumentum ad hominem (“argument at the person”). It can also mean attacking the messenger.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) In an ad hominem manner.
   • He tried to make his case by arguing ad hominem.

ad hominem en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Ellipsis of the Latin expression argumentum ad hominem (“argument at the person”). It can also mean attacking the messenger.

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of argumentum ad hominem: A fallacious objection to an argument or factual claim by appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim; an attempt to argue against an opponent's idea by discrediting the opponent themselves.
   alt of argumentum ad hominem
2. (informal, proscribed) A personal attack.

Forms

Antonyms

appeal to authority · ipse dixit · ad verecundiam

Hyponyms

tone policing · Kafkatrap · traitorous critic fallacy · tu quoque · poisoning the well · argumentum ad feminam · playing the man and not the ball · damn by association · appeal to motive · argumentum ad invidiam

Translations (27)

fr attaque personnelle (personal attack) · ru перехо́д на ли́чности (personal attack) · tl katwirang umaantig sa sarilintao (logical fallacy) · ja 人身攻撃 (personal attack) · cmn 人身攻擊 /人身攻击 (personal attack) · ja 人身攻撃 (logical fallacy) · th การโจมตีตัวบุคคล (personal attack) · pt ad hominem (logical fallacy) · de persönlicher Angriff (personal attack) · pt ad hominem (personal attack) · cmn 对人不对事 (logical fallacy) · es ataque personal (personal attack) · nb ad hominem-argument (logical fallacy) · pl ad hominem (personal attack) · ca ad hominem (logical fallacy) · es ad hominem (logical fallacy) · ar شَخْصَنَة (logical fallacy) · fi ad hominem (logical fallacy) · fi henkilökohtaisuus (personal attack) · ru ли́чные напа́дки (personal attack) · id ad hominem (logical fallacy) · pl ad hominem (logical fallacy) · sv personangrepp (personal attack) · nb ad hominem (logical fallacy) · fi ad hominem (personal attack) · nb personangrep (personal attack) · cmn 以人废言 (logical fallacy)