casuistic
|ca-su-is-tic|
/ˌkæzjuˈɪstɪk/
reasoning by cases (often specious)
Etymology
'casuistic' originates from Late Latin (medieval Latin) 'casuisticus', ultimately based on Latin 'casus' meaning 'case' combined with the adjectival suffix '-istic'.
'casuistic' developed via the noun 'casuistry' (from medieval Latin 'casuistica' and Latin 'casus' 'case') into an English adjective by formation in modern English usage; the term was used in English from the 17th–18th centuries onward.
Initially it meant 'relating to case-based moral reasoning' and over time it also acquired a negative sense of 'using subtle, specious, or evasive reasoning.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to casuistry or the method of resolving moral problems by applying theoretical rules to particular cases.
The committee's casuistic approach examined each case separately rather than applying a single rule.
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Adjective 2
using clever but potentially specious or evasive reasoning (often pejorative).
His casuistic arguments tried to justify the decision by skewing minor facts.
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Last updated: 2025/09/01 23:09