Pseudoscience

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈs(j)uː.dəʊ.saɪ.əns/

Definitions

1. A system of beliefs or practices that claims to be scientific but lacks empirical evidence, rigorous methodology, or peer review validation
2. A body of claims presented as scientifically grounded but lacking proper experimental rigor, peer scrutiny, or testable evidence
3. Practices or theories that mimic the appearance of legitimate science while failing to meet standards of verifiable evidence and reproducible methodology

Etymology: The earliest known use of "pseudoscience" appears in 1796, in James Pettit Andrews's "History of Great Britain," where it was applied to alchemy. Alchemy was a practice that borrowed the language and apparatus of chemistry while lacking the methods that would later define the discipline, so it was a natural first target for a word meaning "false science." The word is built from two parts. "Pseudo-" comes from the Greek "pseudēs," meaning "false," from the verb "pseudein," "to deceive." "Science" comes from Latin "scientia," meaning "knowledge," from "scire," "to know." Put together, the word literally means "false knowledge," though the second element has come to refer specifically to systematic inquiry tested against evidence.

Synonyms: false science, quackery, fraudulent science

Antonyms: science, scientific method