proof by contradiction

noun

The proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation.

Similar
apagogereductio ad absurdum
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Meanings

nounproof by contradiction (countable and uncountable, plural proofs by contradiction)

plural proofs by contradiction

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation.

    Synonyms: apagoge, reductio ad absurdum

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation.

Similar
apagogereductio ad absurdum
Also see
reductio ad absurdum

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 反證法 /反证法, 背理法
  • 反證法 /反证法 (fǎnzhèngfǎ)proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
  • 背理法 (bèilǐfǎ)proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Czech důkaz sporem
  • důkaz sporemproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Dutch bewijs uit het ongerijmde
  • bewijs uit het ongerijmdeproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Finnish ristiriitatodistus
  • ristiriitatodistusproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
French preuve par l'absurde, raisonnement par l'absurde
  • preuve par l'absurdeproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
  • raisonnement par l'absurdeproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
German Widerspruchsbeweis, Beweis durch Widerspruch
  • Widerspruchsbeweisproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
  • Beweis durch Widerspruchproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Greek εις άτοπον απαγωγή
  • εις άτοπον απαγωγή (eis átopon apagogí)proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Icelandic óbein sönnun
  • óbein sönnunproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Latin reductiō ad absurdum
  • reductiō ad absurdumproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Polish dowód nie wprost, sprowadzenie do absurdu
  • dowód nie wprostproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
  • sprowadzenie do absurduproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Romanian reducere la absurd
  • reducere la absurdproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Russian доказа́тельство от проти́вного
  • доказа́тельство от проти́вного (dokazátelʹstvo ot protívnovo)proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Swedish motsägelsebevis
  • motsägelsebevisproof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation
Cite this entry
APA

proof by contradiction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proof%20by%20contradiction

MLA

“proof by contradiction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proof%20by%20contradiction. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proof by contradiction,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proof%20by%20contradiction.

Source: proof by contradiction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.