A comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
Example: Taxes on cigarettes have dramatically reduced sales. By analogy, a tax on sugar should have the same effect.
fr: analogie
antithesis
noun
A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
Example: Murdering an animal after it has lived a life of suffering on a factory farm is the antithesis of justice.
fr: antithèse
argument
noun
A set of reasons given to persuade others that an action or idea is right or wrong.
Example: The argument is flawed and relies upon false reports that are easily disproved.
fr: argument
assert
verb
To behave confidently and forcefully; to say something that is certainly true.
Example: To assert control over the damaging manipulation of images of young women by advertisers, we will need tough new laws.
fr: affirmer
assertion
noun
A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
Example: We should reject the assertion that women have already achieved complete equality with men.
fr: affirmation
axiom
noun
A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
Example: Bacon continued by saying that we must make small steps from fact to AXIOM to law, using the inductive reasoning method.
fr: axiome
axiomatic
adjective
Self-evident, unquestionable.
Example: It seems axiomatic that businesses would benefit from a reduction of sexual harassment in the workplace.
fr: axiomatique
backing
noun
Help or support.
Example: The argument to kill seventeen million minks to stem a coronavirus mutation lacked the necessary backing from scientists.
fr: support
belief
noun
An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
Example: The opposing side holds the belief that adding forty three billion tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere year after year has only a negligible effect on our climate.
fr: croyance
believe
verb
Accept that something is true, especially without proof.
Example: Some people believe that since all the battles have been won the feminist movement is irrelevant.
fr: croyez
claim
noun
An assertion that something is true.
Example: Some people claim that having a negative body image is a problem that only afflicts young women.
fr: prétendre
claim
verb
State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.
Example: Some people claim that a tax on food additives will hurt the poorest segment of society the most by making food more expensive.
fr: prétendre
concede
verb
Admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.
Example: First, we should concede that climate change is inevitable and has occurred before.
fr: concéder
concession
noun
An acceptance or admission that a claim is true.
Example: Limiting the rate of immigration is not a concession to fascism.
fr: concession
conclude
verb
Arrive at a judgment or opinion by reasoning.
Example: We can conclude from the evidence that burning fossil fuels is a major cause of climate change.
fr: conclure
conclusion
noun
The end or finish of an event, process, or text.
Example: The only conclusion we can draw from the evidence is that the intended effect of advertising is to create a negative body image to maximize sales.
fr: conclusion
context
noun
The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.
Example: It is important to understand the full context of wage inequality because some women choose lower wages in exchange for a more regular schedule and less overtime.
fr: le contexte
counterargument
noun
An argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.
Example: The obvious counterargument to those who advocate for animal rights is that animals do not recognize ours.
fr: contre argument
evidence
noun
The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Example: There is not sufficient evidence to suggest that internet censorship has a negative impact on crime rate.
fr: preuve
explanation
noun
A statement or account that makes something clear.
Example: There is no logical explanation for suppressing the creativity and intelligence of half the adult population.
fr: explication
fact
noun
A thing that is known or proved to be true.
Example: It is an irrefutable fact that meat is a complete, high quality protein, containing all of the essential amino acids that your body needs for optimal health.
fr: fait
fallacy
noun
A mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound arguments.
Example: It is a fallacy to assume that censorship of bad things will lead to censorship of good things.
fr: erreur
falsehood
noun
The state of being untrue.
Example: A recent study confirms that fake news, lies, and falsehoods spread like wildfire on social media.
fr: mensonge
hence
adverb
As a consequence; for this reason.
Example: Burning fossil fuels leads to global warming and hence climate change.
fr: par conséquent
implication
noun
The conclusion can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
Example: The implication is that we are eating too much saturated fat.
fr: implication
insufficient
adjective
Not enough; inadequate.
Example: There is insufficient money in the federal budget to fund the transition to a hydrogen economy.
fr: insuffisante
irrelevant
adjective
Not connected with or relevant to something.
Example: Some people believe that since all the battles have been won the feminist movement is irrelevant.
fr: hors du sujet
logic
noun
Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.
Example: If the wage gap were real, employers would use logic to decide to hire only women to get equal work for 20% less pay.
fr: logique
logical
adjective
Of or according to the rules of logic or formal argument.
Example: There is no logical explanation for suppressing the creativity and intelligence of half the adult population.
fr: logique
make sense
verb
Be intelligible, justifiable, or practicable.
Example: It makes sense to encourage well-trained, hard-working people to immigrate to your country.
fr: faire sens
nonsense
noun
Spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.
Example: To suggest that men do not want what is best for their girlfriends, wives, mothers, and daughters is nonsense.
fr: absurdité
nuance
noun
A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
Example: To say that a microscopic embryo is equivalent in rights to a fully grown woman lacks nuance.
fr: nuancer
on the whole
noun
Taking everything into account; in general.
Example: On the whole, the move toward less cruelty in the meat industry has been a positive change.
fr: dans l'ensemble
opinion
noun
A view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
Example: Some people hold the opinion that having a negative body image is a problem that only afflicts young women.
fr: opinion
opponent
noun
Someone who competes with or opposes another in a contest, game, or argument.
Example: The biggest opponent in the climate change debate is the oil industry, which has everything to lose if we win.
fr: adversaire
point
noun
An argument or idea put forward by a person in discussion.
Example: The opposing side makes a valid point about animal experimentation.
fr: point
point of view
noun
A particular attitude or way of considering a matter.
Example: Many people share the point of view that immigration can be harmful, and that immigration is not an unmitigated positive for this country.
fr: point de vue
posit
verb
Assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of argument.
Example: Some people posit that having a negative body image is a problem that only afflicts young women.
fr: postuler
premise
noun
A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.
Example: Animal rights deniers begin with the premise that animals are resources for human exploitation.
fr: prémisse
proof
noun
Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
Example: Government internet censorship isn't just ineffective. There's proof it backfires horribly.
fr: preuve
reason
noun
A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
Example: The best reason to switch to hydrogen fuel cells is that they emit only water, so there are no carbon dioxide emissions and no air pollutants that create smog and cause health problems.
fr: raison
reasonable
noun
Having sound judgement; fair and sensible.
Example: The study findings also suggest that a REASONABLE emphasis should be placed on leaders' behaviors if virtual teams are to be motivated.
fr: raisonnable
rebuttal
noun
An instance of rebutting evidence or an accusation.
Example: Swift strives to create a national identity, exhibiting the complexity and REBUTTAL of history through the metaphorical Fens.
fr: réfutation
refutation
noun
The argument that proves a statement or theory to be false or erroneous.
Example: Angus and Butler (2011) have written a refutation of the claim that “overpopulation” is a major cause of environmental destruction.
fr: réfutation
refute
verb
Prove wrong by argument or evidence; show to be false or erroneous.
Example: Trump seemed to refute immigration, but his demand poorly veiled a racially motivated attack.
fr: réfuter
relevance
noun
The quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate.
Example: What relevance does that point have to the discussion?
fr: pertinence
relevant
noun
Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
Example: Some people believe that since all the battles have been won the feminist movement is no longer relevant.
fr: pertinente
research
noun
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Example: All research to date on body image shows that women are much more critical of their appearance than men.
fr: recherche
scrutiny
noun
Critical observation or examination.
Example: There are lots of myths about vegetarianism and veganism, most of which don’t hold up to scrutiny.
fr: examen minutieux
seeing that
noun
Considering the fact that.
Example: Seeing that animal testing has saved many lives, should it be regulated to allow only medical testing on animals?
fr: vu que
since
noun
In the intervening period between the time mentioned and the time under consideration, typically the present.
Example: Since animal testing is only being done for the greatest good for the greatest number and to benefit our society
we can say that it is not unethical.
fr: puisque
state
verb
Express something definitely or clearly in speech or writing.
Example: Feminists clearly state that prostitution is not at all permissible in society or any culture.
fr: etat
statement
noun
A definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.
Example: Saarinen studied such rivals, and developed a skyscraper STATEMENT for CBS that, in its strictness, one-upped even Mies van der Rohe.
fr: déclaration
statistics
noun
The practice or science of collecting and analysing numerical data in large quantities, especially for the purpose of inferring proportions in a whole from those in a representative sample.
Example: Recent statistics show that 1.1 million abortions are performed each year in the United States.
fr: statistiques
study
noun
A detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation.
Example: Previous studies suggest that adolescents who are dissatisfied with their bodies are more likely to show
depression, low self-esteem and low social functioning.
fr: étude
sufficient
noun
Enough; adequate.
Example: There is not sufficient evidence to suggest that Internet censorship has a negative impact on crime rate.
fr: suffisante
support
noun
A thing that holds up or assists another thing.
Example: Nearly all actively publishing climate scientists support the consensus on anthropogenic climate change, and the remaining 2% of contrarian studies either cannot be replicated or contain errors.
fr: soutien
supporting evidence
noun phrase
The facts and reasoning in your argument that prove that it’s correct.
Example: The discrepancy in both the quantity and quality of the supporting evidence used by each scientist was one of the most telling aspects of their debate.
fr: preuves à l'appui
suppose
verb
Think or assume that something is true or probable but lack proof or certain knowledge.
Example: Suppose women do have less work experience, on average, than men do.
fr: supposer
supposition
noun
A belief held without proof or certain knowledge; an assumption or hypothesis.
Example: Having rejected this supposition, radical feminists now find themselves shunned as reactionaries on the wrong side of a sexual-rights issue.
fr: supposition
therefore
adverb
For that reason; consequently.
Example: Therefore animals must have rights just like we do, even equal rights.
fr: par conséquent
thesis
noun
A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.
Example: This dissertation illustrates this THESIS by examining the ethics of professionalism through a series of case studies.
fr: thèse
thus
adverb
As a result or consequence of this; therefore.
Example: This approach has failed to cater for semantic aspects, and THUS has not been fully effective when used within an MMIS.
fr: donc
truism
noun
A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting.
Example: It has been accepted as a TRUISM that effective leadership is essential to business.
fr: truisme
unreasonable
adjective
Not guided by or based on good sense.
Example: It would be UNREASONABLE for experiment participants to continually wait for new images to load.
fr: déraisonnable
untrue
adjective
Not in accordance with fact or reality; false or incorrect.
Example: However, on closer examination this assumption appears to be UNTRUE .
fr: faux
view
noun
A particular way of considering or regarding something; an attitude or opinion.
Example: Many people share the view that immigration can be harmful.
fr: vue
warrant
noun
Justification or authority for an action, belief, or feeling.
Example: Skinner, whose views on language learning as essentially a matter of behaviour being shaped by stimulus control provided theoretical WARRANT for an approach to language teaching which focused on habit formation.
fr: mandat
withstand
verb
Remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist.
Example: Each objection, and to what extent is it able to WITHSTAND the objections which were made against relativism.
