non sequitur

[ non sek-wi-ter, -toor; Latin nohn se-kwi-toor ]

noun

1. Logic. an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.
2. a statement containing an illogical conclusion:

   The built environment has to be more presentable than it was in the past, but it's a non sequitur to claim that this must occur at the expense of cultural value.

3. something said or written that is unrelated to what immediately precedes:

   Your comment is at best a non sequitur, and bears zero relevance to the issue at point.

4. an illogical or unconnected shift from one thing to another:

   The Tibetan prints to the right of the formal portrait—with their religious figures and mandala-like patterns—initially seem like a non sequitur.

non sequitur

/ ˈnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtə /

noun

1. a statement having little or no relevance to what preceded it
2. logic a conclusion that does not follow from the premises

non sequitur

1. A thought that does not logically follow what has just been said: “We had been discussing plumbing, so her remark about astrology was a real non sequitur.” Non sequitur is Latin for “It does not follow.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of non sequitur¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin nōn sequitur “it does not follow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of non sequitur¹

Latin, literally: it does not follow

Example Sentences

A waiter sitting down at a table and saying out of nowhere, “I literally have COVID” — that’s my kind of non sequitur.

From Los Angeles Times

At some point, with all the hate, looping and non sequiturs, it became hard to listen to.

From Los Angeles Times

The album also exults in musical zingers, non sequiturs and startling off-grid eruptions.

From New York Times

It was a non sequitur, but at least the senator recognized the guest of honor.

From Los Angeles Times

It sounds like a non sequitur — but when Siddhartha Khosla traces the arc of his life, there’s a consistent through line that makes as much sense as any good melody.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deception
• falsehood
• heresy
• inconsistency
• misinterpretation
• paradox
• untruth