syllogistic

UK: /ˌsɪləˈdʒɪstɪk/ US: (sil′ə jis′tik)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

syl•lo•gis•tic  (sil′ə jis′tik), adj. Also, syl′lo•gis′ti•cal. 

1. Philosophy of or pertaining to a syllogism.
2. Philosophy like or consisting of syllogisms.

n. 

3. Philosophy the part of logic that deals with syllogisms.
4. Philosophy syllogistic reasoning.

• Greek syllogistikós, equivalent. to syllogist(ós), verbid of syllogízesthai (see syllogize) + -ikos -ic
• Latin syllogisticus
• 1660–70

syl′lo•gis′ti•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

syllogistic / ˌsɪləˈdʒɪstɪk/ adjective
also: syllogistical

1. of, relating to or consisting of syllogisms

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

syl•lo•gism /ˈsɪləˌdʒɪzəm/   n. [countable]

1. Philosophy a logical argument of a form containing three statements (two[premises] and a conclusion derived from them) in the sequence: "All dogs are mammals;
   all terriers are dogs;
   therefore, all terriers are mammals.''

syl•lo•gis•tic, adj. See -log-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

syl•lo•gism  (sil′ə jiz′əm), n. 

1. Philosophy [Logic.] an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one (major premise) contains the term (major term) that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other (minor premise)contains the term (minor term) that is the subject of the conclusion;
   common to both premises is a term (middle term) that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is "All A is C;
   all B is A;
   therefore all B is C.''
2. Philosophy deductive reasoning.
3. Philosophy an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument.

• Latin, as above
• Old French
• Greek syllogismós, equivalent. to syllog- (see syllogize) + -ismos -ism; replacing Middle English silogime
• Latin syllogismus
• 1350–1400