soph ‧ ist ‧ ry /ˈsɒfəstri, ˈsɒfɪstri $ ˈsɑː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural sophistries ) [uncountable and countable] formal
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: sophistria , from Latin sophista 'one who uses sophistry' , from Greek sophistes 'wise man, teacher of knowledge, user of sophistry' , from sophizesthai 'to become wise, deceive' , from sophos 'clever, wise' ]
the clever use of reasons or explanations that seem correct but are really false, in order to deceive people