Logic

How to spell logic

5 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce logic

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does logic mean?

1. nounA system of sound reasoning, or the principles by which valid conclusions are drawn.

Logic in a sentence

• Her argument followed a clear logic that nobody could fault.

• There is no logic in paying more for the same product.

Where does logic come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This word traces back to the Greek logike, short for logike techne, meaning 'the art of reasoning'. It was built on logos, a remarkably rich word that meant 'word', 'speech', 'account', and by extension 'reason' itself, which is why so many fields of study end in -logy. The Greek term passed into Latin as logica and then into Old French as logique, before settling into English in the late 1300s as a name for the formal study of valid argument. Over time the meaning broadened from the academic discipline to the everyday sense of sound reasoning or the way a system hangs together. The same logos root sits inside dialogue, apology, and the entire family of -ology subjects, all sharing the idea of words and reasoned discourse. The spelling keeps the hard Greek g before i, which is the main thing to watch.

How the word is built

• log- (from Greek logos: word, reason)
• -ic (adjective/noun suffix)