MEANING
1. To assume that a disputed claim is already true instead of giving an independent reason for it.
2. To cause a particular question to arise as a natural response.
Use it for
identifying circular reasoning; showing that an argument assumes its conclusion; challenging a premise that contains the disputed claim; distinguishing assertion from independent supportPrevents confusion between raising a question and assuming the very point an argument needs to prove. Writing functions: Argument evaluation.
Words that belong together
- an argument that begs the question
- beg the question by assuming
On the page
Calling the rule fair because it treats people justly begs the question unless just treatment is independently explained.
The defense begs the question by assuming the reliability of the very records whose accuracy is disputed.
The absence of complaints begs the question of whether people knew how to submit one.
The repeated delays beg the question: who is responsible for the timetable?
Word forms
- Base
- beg the question
Usage notes
Verbal idiom: beg/begs/begged/begging the question. The modern question-raising sense and the traditional logical sense are distinct. Register: neutral. Commonness: common; logical sense more formal (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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