pseudoscientifically
|pseu-do-sci-en-tif-ic-al-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˌsuː.doʊ.saɪənˈtɪfɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌsuː.dəʊ.saɪənˈtɪfɪk/
(pseudoscientific)
appears scientific but is false
Etymology
'pseudoscientifically' originates from Greek prefix 'pseudo-' (from Greek 'pseudes') meaning 'false', combined with 'scientific' (from Latin 'scientia' via French/Medieval Latin) and the English adverbial suffix '-ally'.
'pseudo-' (from Greek 'pseudes') was attached to 'science'/'scientific' in modern English to form 'pseudoscientific' (19th–20th century usage); later the adverbial form 'pseudoscientifically' was formed by adding the suffix '-ally'.
Initially the components meant 'false' + 'knowledge' (or 'learning'), but over time the compound came to mean 'having the appearance of science without its methods or evidence'; 'pseudoscientifically' now means 'in a manner characteristic of pseudoscience'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
transformation: the noun form 'pseudoscience' — theories, methods, or beliefs that claim to be scientific but lack supporting evidence or methodological rigor.
Astrology is often cited as an example of pseudoscience.
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Adjective 1
adjectival sense (base form): having the appearance or trappings of science but lacking its methods or supporting evidence.
Many popular health fads are criticized as pseudoscientific claims.
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Adverb 1
in a manner that resembles or imitates scientific method or language but lacks actual empirical support, rigorous methodology, or adherence to scientific standards.
The claim was presented pseudoscientifically, using technical-sounding terms but no reproducible data.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 03:58