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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

Ad Hominem

American English · Video pronunciation

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What does Ad Hominem mean?

noun

  1. Ellipsis of argumentum ad hominem: A fallacious objection to an argument or factual claim by appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim; an attempt to argue against an opponent's idea by discrediting the opponent themselves.
  2. (informal) A personal attack.

adjective

  1. Of or relating to this kind of fallacious objection.
More meanings (1)

adverb

  1. In an ad hominem manner.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

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In the pages of books

See this word in context.

We could still add to these a whole category of shorter methods of gaining the end, which might be called arguments ad hominem.
Carl von ClausewitzOn WarTranslated by J. J. (James John) GrahamProject Gutenberg ebook #1946
Maston, in despair, went in search of Michel Ardan, who counseled him to resign himself to the situation, adding one or two arguments ad hominem.
Jules VerneFrom the Earth to the moon; and, round the moonProject Gutenberg ebook #83
More book examples (3)
A dozen pugilists, commanded by a notorious boxer of the day, were introduced into the pit, to use the argumentum ad hominem to the rioters.
Charles MackayMemoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 1Project Gutenberg ebook #636
This is already known under the name of ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM.
John LockeAn Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 2 MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 3 and 4Project Gutenberg ebook #10616
I also agree (I am in a very agreeing frame of mind) with your argumentum ad hominem, about the highness of the Australian Flora from the number of species and genera; but here comes in a superlative bothering element of doubt, viz., the effect of isolation.
Charles DarwinLife and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1Project Gutenberg ebook #2087