reductio ad absurdum

noun re·duc·tio ad ab·sur·dum \ri-ˈdək-tē-ˌō-ˌad-əb-ˈsər-dəm, -ˈdək-sē-ō-, -shē-, -ˈzər-\

Definition of REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM

: disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion

: the carrying of something to an absurd extreme

Late Latin, literally, reduction to the absurd

First Known Use: 1741

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