FALLACY
fallacy, false belief
(noun) a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
fallacy (plural fallacies)
Deceptive or false appearance; that which misleads the eye or the mind.
Synonyms: deception, deceitfulness
(logic) An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not. A specious argument.
Source: Wiktionary
Fal"la*cy, n.; pl. Fallacies. Etym: [OE. fallace, fallas, deception,
F. fallace, fr. L. fallacia, fr. fallax deceitful, deceptive, fr.
fallere to deceive. See Fail.]
1. Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which misleads
the eye or the mind; deception.
Winning by conquest what the first man lost, By fallacy surprised.
Milton.
2. (Logic)
Definition: An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be
decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a
sophism.
Syn.
– Deception; deceit; mistake.
– Fallacy, Sophistry. A fallacy is an argument which professes to
be decisive, but in reality is not; sophistry is also false
reasoning, but of so specious and subtle a kind as to render it
difficult to expose its fallacy. Many fallacies are obvious, but the
evil of sophistry lies in its consummate art. "Men are apt to suffer
their minds to be misled by fallacies which gratify their passions.
Many persons have obscured and confounded the nature of things by
their wretched sophistry; though an act be never so sinful, they will
strip it of its guilt." South.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition