Definition of reductio ad absurdum
- an argument that disproves a claim by showing it leads to absurd results
Usage examples of reductio ad absurdum
She used reductio ad absurdum: if every minor mistake required firing someone, then no employee would last a week.
His reductio ad absurdum showed that the proposed rule, applied consistently, would ban children from carrying backpacks.
The philosopher rejected the claim through reductio ad absurdum by showing that it would make all promises meaningless.