undistributed middle

noun

: a syllogistic fallacy in which neither premise conveys information about all members of the class designated by the middle term
the argument “All men are sinners, and all weaklings are sinners, therefore all men are weaklings” says nothing about all sinners and has an undistributed middle

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near undistributed middle

Cite this Entry

“Undistributed middle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undistributed%20middle. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!