casuist

UK: /ˈkæzjʊɪst/ US: (kazh′o̅o̅ ist)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cas•u•ist  (kazh′o̅o̅ ist), n. 

1. Philosophy an oversubtle or disingenuous reasoner, esp. in questions of morality.
2. Philosophy a person who studies and resolves moral problems of judgment or conduct arising in specific situations.

• Latin cāsu(s) case¹ + -ista -ist
• Spanish casuista
• 1600–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

casuist / ˈkæzjʊɪst/ noun

1. a person, esp a theologian, who attempts to resolve moral dilemmas by the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases
2. a person who is oversubtle in his or her analysis of fine distinctions; sophist

Etymology: 17th Century: from French casuiste, from Spanish casuista, from Latin cāsus case¹

ˌcasuˈistic, ˌcasuˈistical adjective

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cas•u•is•try /ˈkæʒuɪstri/   n. [uncountable]

1. Philosophy reasoning that is deliberately too clever.

cas•u•ist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cas•u•ist•ry  (kazh′o̅o̅ ə strē), n., pl. -ries. 

1. Philosophy specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, esp. in questions of morality;
   fallacious or dishonest application of general principles;
   sophistry.
2. Philosophy the application of general ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct.

• casuist + -ry 1715–25