fallacy
a mistaken or misleading argument
Root
- fallac / fallax: deceptive, misleading, or false-seeming
Other words with the fallac / fallax root
- fallacious: misleading or based on false reasoning
- fallaciously: in a misleading or logically false way
- fallible: capable of making mistakes
- false: not true
A fallacy does not just fail; it leads the reasoning wrong while sounding plausible.
The argument rested on a fallacy about cause and effect.