Etymological fallacy

Informal fallacies → Ambiguity / equivocation

The etymological fallacy is when you argue that a word's current meaning must be the same as its original or root meaning. Words change over time; where a word came from doesn't fix what it means now. Etymology can be interesting and sometimes relevant, but it doesn't dictate correct usage. The fallacy is to insist that the "original" meaning is the only correct one and to dismiss current usage. Usage and context decide meaning, not etymology alone.

Examples

  • "Decimate" originally meant "kill one in ten," so it can't mean "destroy most of."

  • "Awful" used to mean "full of awe," so it can't mean "very bad."

  • "Nice" once meant "silly," so you're wrong to use it for "pleasant."

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