Meaning & use
law of parsimony
The principle that, when explanations compete, the simplest one requiring the fewest assumptions is usually correct.
See it in a sentence
Following the law of parsimony, the doctor first ruled out the simplest explanation for the symptoms.
Scientists invoked the law of parsimony to favor the theory with fewer untested assumptions.
A note on using this word
The law of parsimony is more commonly known as Occam's razor, named after the medieval philosopher William of Ockham.
Words with a similar meaning
occam's razor
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