sophist

[ sof-ist ]

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) Greek History.
   1. any of a class of professional teachers in ancient Greece who gave instruction in various fields, as in general culture, rhetoric, politics, or disputation.
   2. a person belonging to this class at a later period who, while professing to teach skill in reasoning, concerned himself with ingenuity and specious effectiveness rather than soundness of argument.
2. a person who reasons adroitly and speciously rather than soundly.
3. a philosopher.

sophist

/ ˈsɒfɪst /

noun

1. often capital one of the pre-Socratic philosophers who were itinerant professional teachers of oratory and argument and who were prepared to enter into debate on any matter however specious
2. a person who uses clever or quibbling arguments that are fundamentally unsound

Other Words From

• anti·sophist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sophist¹

1535–45; < Latin sophista < Greek sophistḗs sage, derivative of sophízesthai

Word History and Origins

Origin of sophist¹

C16: from Latin sophista, from Greek sophistēs a wise man, from sophizesthai to act craftily

Example Sentences

International politics is not best overseen by saints or sophists.

From Los Angeles Times

Musk and DeSantis praised each other for their dedication to free speech, and Sacks brought on several right-wing sophists to add their voices.

From Los Angeles Times

But above all, you would not expect to see programs on an American news channel, if not taking the side of the Russian aggressor, at least giving a platform to its excusers and sophists.

From New York Times

Kellyanne Conway, who carried Trump's 2016 campaign over the finish line before assuming a role as the administration's most facile TV sophist, would bring a range of experience and insight in national politics.

From Salon

Like Socrates exposing the sophists of Athens, Kierkegaard “sought to expose” false teachers of grand schemes, the “pseudo-philosophers.”

From Washington Post

Related Words

• bigot
• charlatan
• crook
• impostor
• phony
• trickster