idolum

noun

ido·​lum

īˈdōləm

plural idola

-lə

1

: eidolon

2

: a form of false thinking : fallacy, idol sense 5

specifically : one of the four varieties of fallacy distinguished by Francis Bacon in his Novum Organum (1620) compare idols of the cave, idols of the forum, idols of the theater, idols of the tribe

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from Latin & Greek; Latin, phantom, image, from Greek eidōlon phantom, image, idol; in sense 2, New Latin, from Late Latin, idol, from Greek eidōlon

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!