circular definition
Explains using itself
A circular definition explains a term using the term itself, or using words that rely on the term for their meaning: defining "courage" as "the quality of being courageous".
The flaw is that anyone who doesn't already know the word learns nothing.
Circular definitions are a common pitfall in dictionary writing and philosophical argument.
- synonymWord meaning the same
- tautologyRedundant or circular statement
- self-referencePointing to oneself
- recursiveDefined in terms of itself
- chicken and eggMutual causation riddle
logical fallacy · description · explanation · paradox · meaning · semantics · misunderstanding · missing the point · logic · closed system · redundancy · critical thinking · logic puzzle · word salad · mirror · begging the question · lexicography · cognitive bias
- Self-referenceself-reference, self-referential, recursion, recursive, meta
- dictionary errorsmisspelling, typo, false etymology, pronunciation error
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, ad hominem, fallacy, slippery slope
- semanticsmeaning, denotation, sense, connotation, reference
circular, circle, circles, circled, circling, circularity, circularly, circulate, circulation