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

He said he was living in a valley in Montana, which seemed a non sequitur in that setting.

From The Daily Beast

In a complete non sequitur, Andy Samberg takes on Marky Mark in an SNL skit called “Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals.”

From The Daily Beast

His argument is a total non sequitur: how does Palestinian intransigence justify settlements?

From The Daily Beast

The non-sequitur sum of the movies' parts can be overwhelming.

From The Daily Beast

It's somewhat of a career non sequitur, going from overseas battlefield to deep inside a hidden bureaucracy.

From The Daily Beast

A strange physiological fancy and a very odd non sequitur; but that is not our present point.

From Project Gutenberg

To Fisher's logical mind the proposal that he should apologise was a non sequitur.

From Project Gutenberg

By a series of non sequitur arguments the average disputant succeeds admirably in proving what is foreign to the subject.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll pardon my answer, of course, I was merely trying to top your own non sequitur.

From Project Gutenberg

A positive conclusion is technically known as a Non-Sequitur (Doesn't follow).

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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