lo ‧ gic /ˈlɒdʒɪk $ ˈlɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ logic ; adverb : ↑ logically ≠ ↑ illogically ; adjective : ↑ logical ≠ ↑ illogical ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: logique , from Latin logica , from Greek logike , from logos 'speech, word, reason' ]
1 . [singular, uncountable] a way of thinking about something that seems correct and reasonable, or a set of sensible reasons for doing something
logic behind
The logic behind this statement is faulty.
logic of
What’s the logic of your argument?
accept/follow/see sb’s logic
It’s easy to understand his logic.
There is a certain logic in their choice of architect.
commercial/industrial/economic logic
Commercial logic has forced the two parts of the company closer together.
2 . [uncountable] a formal method of reasoning, in which ideas are based on previous ideas
3 . [uncountable] technical a set of choices that a computer uses to solve a problem
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ understand/see sb’s logic
I could not understand the logic of her actions.
▪ follow sb’s logic (=to use someone’s logic in an activity or situation)
Following this logic, none of these distressing conditions would be considered 'real' illnesses.
▪ use/apply logic
Why do we not apply the same logic in the way we treat animals?
▪ accept sb’s logic (=agree that a reason is correct)
The government should accept this logic and exempt all students from paying the tax.
▪ defy logic (=to not be reasonable)
It defies logic to import food that we can grow more easily and cheaply here.
▪ logic suggests something (=used when you want to argue that something is reasonable)
Logic suggests that if the air is warmer, more water evaporates.
▪ logic dictates something (=used to say that something will definitely happen because of logic)
Logic dictates that poorer people will be more affected by the rise in inflation.
■ adjectives
▪ commercial/industrial/economic etc logic
Reducing your carbon footprint is also backed by good economic logic.
▪ internal logic (=logic that seems sensible within a particular activity or situation)
Each major religion has its own internal logic.
▪ underlying logic (=logic that is important, but not easily noticed)
These word lists show students the underlying logic of English spelling.
▪ inexorable logic formal (=logic in which one thing leads to another in a way that cannot be avoided)
By the inexorable logic of war, the bombings provoked an even stronger response.
▪ impeccable logic (=very good logic)
He worked out, with impeccable logic, that the best thing to do would be to cooperate.
▪ a certain logic (=used when something does not seem sensible, but there are understandable reasons for it)
With a certain logic, the child said that ‘ten and one’ would be the next number after ten.