ignoratio elenchi noun phr. [ɪgnǝ,reɪʃɪǝʊ ɪ'lɛŋkʌɪ] Pl. ignorationes elenchi [,ɪgnǝreɪʃɪ'ǝʊni:z]. L16.
[medieval Latin, translating Greek hē tou elegkou agnoia ignorance of the conditions of valid proof.]
A logical fallacy which consists in apparently refuting an opponent while actually disproving something not asserted; gen. any argument which is irrelevant to its professed purpose.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲