sophistry

This term carries a strong negative connotation, implying a deliberate attempt to mislead through intellectual trickery. It describes a specific type of deception where the logic appears sound on the surface, but is built upon a flawed or dishonest premise to manipulate the listener's perception.

Because it refers to an abstract concept of deceptive reasoning, the word is treated as an uncountable mass noun. It does not have a plural form in standard usage; one does not encounter multiple sophistries, but rather instances of sophistry, requiring partitive constructions if a specific count is needed.