SINCE 1828
reductio ad absurdum
noun
re·duc·tio ad ab·sur·dum
| \ ri-ˈdək-tē-ˌō-ˌad-əb-ˈsər-dəm
, -ˈdək-sē-ō-, -shē-, -ˈzər-\
, -ˈdək-sē-ō-, -shē-, -ˈzər-\
Definition of reductio ad absurdum
1
: disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion
2
: the carrying of something to an absurd extreme
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