fallacy
fallacy
Noun
pl: fallacies
This term describes a gap between a perceived truth and actual reality. It often carries a connotation of intellectual error or deception, whether intentional or accidental. In casual conversation, it refers to a widely held but incorrect belief.
In formal logic and legal contexts, it refers to a specific structural flaw in an argument. This technical usage identifies a precise breakdown in reasoning that makes a conclusion unsupported, regardless of whether the conclusion happens to be true.