Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pseudoscience

/ˈs(j)uː.dəʊ.saɪ.əns/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.56 in modern English

Syllables: pseu-do-sci-ence
IPA: /ˈs(j)uː.dəʊ.saɪ.əns/

20

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Any body of knowledge that purports to be scientific or to be supported by science (or may appear to be scientific) but which fails to comply with the scientific method (or rather, is not true science).

Countable; Derogatory; Uncountable

noun

Fictitious science as portrayed in science fiction.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The fantastical pseudo-science of alchemy has in all ages had its numerous votaries …"
"We had enough to do in this world. Life was a beautiful thing. The man who appreciated its real duties and beauties would have sufficient to employ him without dabbling in pseudo sciences which had their roots in frauds, exposed already a hundred times and yet finding fresh crowds of foolish devotees whose insane credulity and irrational prejudice made them impervious to all argument."
"It pulls together first-rate pseudo-science and high-grade detective meller of the Spillane school (but entirely clean) and the result is fine read-and-forget entertainment."

Etymology

Etymology tree Pre-Greekder.? Ancient Greek ψεύδω (pseúdō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ēs Proto-Hellenic *-ēs Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs) Ancient Greek -ής (-ḗs) Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudḗs)der. Middle English pseudo- English pseudo- Proto-Indo-European *sek-? Proto-Indo-European *-éyti Proto-Indo-European *skey-der. Latin sciō Latin sciēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin scientialbor. Old French sciencebor. Middle English science English science English pseudoscience From pseudo- + science, first attested in 1796, in reference to alchemy.

Origin

First known use: first attested in 1796

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈs(j)uː.dəʊ.saɪ.əns/

Usage

Inflected Forms

pseudosciences (plural) pseudo-science (alternative)

Derived Forms

pseudoscientific pseudoscientifically pseudoscientist

Frequently Paired Words

parascience science

Rhymes With

science alliance compliance non-compliance reliance defiance appliance bioscience noncompliance

Questions

How do you pronounce pseudoscience?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈs(j)uː.dəʊ.saɪ.əns/.
What does pseudoscience mean?: Any body of knowledge that purports to be scientific or to be supported by science (or may appear to be scientific) but which fails to comply with the scientific method (or rather, is not true science).
Where does pseudoscience come from?: First known use: first attested in 1796.

How to pronounce pseudoscience

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