Meaning & use
illogical
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not based on clear, sound reasoning, so that the steps do not lead properly to the conclusion.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an illogical argument, That seems illogical.
Patterns
- it is illogical to do something
- illogical that something
It is illogical to buy a bigger house and then complain about the cleaning.
His argument was illogical, since the second point contradicted the first.
She admitted her fear of flying was illogical.
adjectivecomparable
Not following a sensible order or pattern, making it hard to follow.
Grammar: Describes arrangements, rules or behavior: an illogical layout.
Patterns
- illogical order
- illogical layout
The menu has an illogical order, with desserts between the starters.
The rules seemed illogical to the new employees.
Word forms
| comparative | more illogical |
|---|---|
| superlative | most illogical |
Common combinations
- seem illogical
- The decision may seem illogical, but there is a reason behind it.
- an illogical conclusion
- They drew an illogical conclusion from the survey.
- illogical fear
- He has an illogical fear of pigeons.
- completely illogical
- The plan was completely illogical from the start.
- illogical behavior
- Illogical behavior in a crisis is common.
Synonyms and how they differ
- irrational
- Irrational stresses ignoring reason, often because of emotion, while illogical stresses a break in the chain of reasoning.
- unreasonable
- Unreasonable usually judges how fair someone is being, whereas illogical judges the sense of the reasoning.
- inconsistent
- Inconsistent means parts contradict each other, which is one common cause of something being illogical.
- absurd
- Absurd is stronger and suggests ridiculous, while illogical is a calmer remark about faulty reasoning.
Opposites
Word family
- logic noun
- the study or practice of correct reasoning
- logical adjective
- following sound reasoning
- illogically adverb
- in a way that lacks sound reasoning
- illogicality noun
- the quality of being illogical
- logically adverb
- in a reasoned way
Commonly confused: illogical or unlogical? illogical or irrational?
illogical vs unlogical
Unlogical is not standard English. The accepted opposite of logical is illogical.
illogical vs irrational
Irrational is used for people ruled by feelings, while illogical is more often used for arguments and statements.
Practice
Her argument was ___ because the conclusion did not follow from her facts.
Choose one answer.
Illogical describes reasoning that does not follow. Illegal means against the law, and impatient and immodest describe attitudes, not arguments.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illogical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.