ad hominem

Meanings

Noun

• 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 themself.
• A personal attack.

Adjective

• Of or relating to this kind of fallacious objection.

Adverb

• In an ad hominem manner.

Related

Opposite words

• ad verecundiam (see Wikipedia:Argument from authority)
• appeal to authority
• ipse dixit

Narrower meaning words

• en
• play the man and not the ball
• poison the well

Origin

• Ellipsis of the Latin expression argumentum ad hominem. It can also mean attacking the messenger.