McNamara fallacy

noun

The making of a decision based solely on quantitative observations (or metrics), ignoring other factors.

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Meanings

nounMcNamara fallacy (plural McNamara fallacies)

plural McNamara fallacies

  1. The making of a decision based solely on quantitative observations (or metrics), ignoring other factors.

Origin

Named after Robert McNamara, U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968.

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Cite this entry
APA

McNamara fallacy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McNamara%20fallacy

MLA

“McNamara fallacy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McNamara%20fallacy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “McNamara fallacy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McNamara%20fallacy.

Source: McNamara fallacy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.