Non Sequitur
noun /ˌnɒn ˈsɛk.wɪ.tər/ — A conclusion that does not logically follow from its premise
Definition
A conclusion, statement, or response that does not logically follow from what preceded it. In logic, a formal fallacy; in conversation, a statement that seems to come from nowhere; in fiction, a form of absurdist humour.
Beyond the definition
Non sequitur names the specific disorientation of an argument that seems to follow but doesn't — the feeling of being moved from point A to point C without passing through B. It's the word for when logic quietly stops working.
Origin & history
Latin: 'it does not follow'. From non (not) + sequitur (it follows, from sequi, to follow). The logical term for an invalid argument where the conclusion cannot be derived from the premises.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She made a passionate case for the project and then, non sequitur, asked if anyone wanted coffee.
The conclusion was a non sequitur — nothing in the evidence supported it.
Non sequiturs in conversation are often more interesting than the argument they interrupt.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Non Sequitur” when the meaning fits your context: A conclusion, statement, or response that does not logically follow from what preceded it. In logic, a formal fallacy; in conversation, a statement that seems to come from nowhere; in fiction, a form of absurdist humour.
Synonyms
illogical conclusion, irrelevant statement, logical fallacy
Antonyms
logical conclusion, valid inference
Related words
Non Sequitur vs irrelevance
Irrelevance is a quality of being off-topic. A non-sequitur is a specific logical failure where a conclusion is presented that simply does not follow from the premises given.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Paths Diverging Without Logic
Two people stand at a crossroads where one points towards light and another towards shadow.
The scene shows two paths leading to disparate, disconnected destinations. A non-sequitur is a statement or conclusion that does not follow logically from what preceded it, much like paths that refuse to share an underlying trajectory.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Non Sequitur" mean?
Non Sequitur is noun meaning: A conclusion that does not logically follow from its premise. A conclusion, statement, or response that does not logically follow from what preceded it. In logic, a formal fallacy; in conversation, a statement that seems to come from nowhere; in fiction, a form of absurdist humour.
Where does the word "Non Sequitur" come from?
Latin: 'it does not follow'. From non (not) + sequitur (it follows, from sequi, to follow). The logical term for an invalid argument where the conclusion cannot be derived from the premises.