ad hominem

1 of 2

adjective

ad ho·​mi·​nem (ˈ)ad-ˈhä-mə-nəm 

-ˌnem

1

: appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect

an ad hominem argument

2

: marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made

made an ad hominem personal attack on his rival

ad hominem

2 of 2

adverb

: in an ad hominem manner

was arguing ad hominem

Did you know?

Ad hominem literally means “to the person” in New Latin (Latin as used since the end of the medieval period). In centuries past, the term was used in the phrase “argument ad hominem” (or argumentum ad hominem, to use the full New Latin phrase) to refer to a method of persuasion in which one introduces issues that relate personally to one’s opponent, such as the opponent’s habits, practices, or circumstances, instead of just sticking to principles or facts. What exactly came into play in such persuasions eventually expanded, and ad hominem came to describe an attack aimed at an opponent’s character rather than their ideas. The hostile nature of such attacks has led to an understanding of the term as meaning “against the person,” rather than its original Latin meaning of “to the person.”

Examples of ad hominem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Both were armed with their own social media companies, spewing ad hominem attacks, with vexatious claims playing out in public. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

The annals of political history are rife with examples of politicians and pundits going full ad hominem on opposing candidates. —Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025

Many stories — from, for example, small media sites — are replete with the obligatory (and stale) ad hominem attacks on Musk. —Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Then there’s ad hominem arguments and false accusation. —Gary Marcus, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2024

Instead, he is being urged to focus on the issues that animate conservatives and calling attention to her liberal views rather than vitriolic personal attacks and other ad hominem tangents. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2024

Trump, who is not known for having a moderate temperament, could use the CIA to launch ad hominem operations. —Christopher R. Moran, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2017

Joe Raedle | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump is facing a wave of calls from Republican supporters to focus his political attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris on policy critiques and to scale back his ad hominem insults and conspiracy theories. —Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2024

The names on the ballot will be different, but this election, so far, is still about ad hominem attacks on character. —Julie Garel, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin, literally, "to the person"

Adverb

derivative of ad hominem entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1588, in the meaning defined above

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