pseudoscientific
/ˌsu.doʊ̯ˌsaɪ̯.ənˈtɪf.ɪk/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.03 in modern English
26
Scrabble Score
16
Letters
6
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of, relating to, or employing pseudoscience; not scientific, though purporting to be scientific.
Example Sentences
- "[…] another example of the desire to control deviant lifestyles: the preparation by the FBI of pseudoscientific "profiles" that purport to describe the murderers."
- "Many postsecondary educators are concerned about the rising tide of pseudoscientific, fundamentally anti-intellectual belief among otherwise well educated Americans."
- "Some pseudoscientific claims explain what non-believers cannot even observe, e.g. orgone energy, N-rays, or chi."
- "Don’t let manipulative state legislators misrepresent science and fearmonger you into giving them money. At the very least, don’t let them continue with their false pseudoscientific assertions. Pressure them to do their jobs and introduce real evidence-based legislation – like the Equality Act – that will improve lives."
- "The trolls did not match the old professional racists’ stuffy style, but they found use in their pseudoscientific graphics."
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 Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -(i)ficuslbor. English -ific ▲ English scientificinflu. English pseudoscientific From pseudoscience + -ific, influenced by scientific. By surface analysis, pseudo- + scientific. First attested in 1836.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌsu.doʊ̯ˌsaɪ̯.ənˈtɪf.ɪk/
- British English: /ˌsuː.dəʊ̯ˌsaɪ̯.ənˈtɪf.ɪk/
Inflected Forms
more pseudoscientific (comparative)
most pseudoscientific (superlative)
pseudo-scientific (alternative)