First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
sophist
noun soph·ist \ˈsä-fist\
Definition of SOPHIST
1
2
capitalized : any of a class of ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and the art of successful living prominent about the middle of the fifth century b.c. for their adroit subtle and allegedly often specious reasoning
3
: a captious or fallacious reasoner
See sophist defined for kids ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SOPHIST
Latin sophista, from Greek sophistēs, literally, expert, wise man, from sophizesthai to become wise, deceive, from sophos clever, wise
Other Philosophy Terms
Learn More About SOPHIST
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up sophist? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).