specious
SPEE-shuhs
/ˈspiːʃəs/
Superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading.
Specious is applied to arguments, reasoning, or excuses. A specious argument sounds incredibly logical and attractive at first glance, but when you examine the facts, it completely falls apart.
The story behind the word. Specious has a highly ironic history. It comes from the Latin 'speciosus', which meant 'beautiful, fair, or lovely to look at', derived from 'species' (appearance). In Middle English, it still meant 'visually pleasing'. However, over the centuries, the meaning soured, shifting from 'beautiful' to 'having a beautiful appearance that hides an ugly, false reality'.
Word relationships
- plausible: Plausible means believable and likely true, while specious means believable but actually false.
- sophistic: Sophistic refers specifically to clever but fallacious arguments used by ancient Greek Sophists to win debates rather than find truth.
- valid: A valid argument is both logically sound and factually true, holding up under intense scrutiny.
Commonly confused with
- spurious: Specious is used for arguments that look good but are false. Spurious is used for data, claims, or physical objects that are fake or illegitimate.
Word family
- speciously (adverb): In a way that seems correct but is actually wrong.
- speciousness (noun): The quality of seeming plausible but being fallacious.
Collocations
- specious argument
- specious reasoning
- specious claim
Idioms & expressions
- fool's gold
- looks good on paper
Example sentences
- "The company's claim that their sugary cereal was 'part of a healthy breakfast' was highly specious, relying on a tiny disclaimer." An analysis of a misleading advertising claim.
- "The researcher exposed the specious reasoning of the study, showing that the authors had ignored key data points to prove their point." A critique of a flawed scientific theory.
Memory hook
Think of 'suspicious species'. A species of animal that looks beautiful but is actually highly venomous. A beautiful, shiny apple that is rotten to the core.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical objects (like a fake watch); use 'spurious' or 'counterfeit' for physical items. Specious is for ideas and arguments.
Fun facts
- In the 17th century, you could describe a beautiful woman as 'specious' without insulting her; today, doing so would imply she is a deceptive liar!
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