ad hominem

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

Shortened from the Latin expression argumentum ad hominem, argument at the man (man as in a human being, not man as a male). From argumentum (meaning "argument") + ad (meaning "to" or "at") + hominem, the accusative singular of homo (meaning "man"). It can also mean attacking the messenger.

Noun

ad hominem (plural ad hominems)

1. (logical fallacy) 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 himself.
2. A personal attack.

Antonyms

• ad verecundiam (see Wikipedia:Argument from authority)
• appeal to authority
• ipse dixit

Synonyms

• (a fallacious objection): ad hominem argument, argument ad hominem, argumentum ad hominem

See also

• poisoning the well

Translations

logical fallacy

• Finnish: ad hominem (fi)

personal attack

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 人身攻擊 (cmn), 人身攻击 (cmn) (rénshēn gōngjí)

• Finnish: ad hominem (fi), henkilökohtaisuus (fi)
• French: attaque personnelle (fr) f
• German: persönlicher Angriff (de) m

• Japanese: 人身攻撃 (ja) (じんしんこうげき, jinshin kōgeki)
• Russian: переход на личности (ru) (perexód na líčnosti) m, личные нападки (ru) (líčnyje napádki) f pl
• Swedish: personangrepp (sv) n

Adjective

ad hominem

1. Of or relating to ad hominem.

   Well that's an ad hominem argument.

Adverb

ad hominem

1. In an ad hominem manner.

   He tried to make his case by arguing ad hominem.