Definition of "eristic" [e•ris•tic]

• Given to or characterized by disputatious, often specious argument. (adjective)
• One given to or expert in dispute or argument. (noun)
• The art or practice of disputation and polemics. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Structurally defined, eristic is a zero-sum game, as is debating."
• ""eristic" -- into an argument for its own sake; or sinks into logomachy,"
• "I said I was going to write about the use of the word "eristic," and the reason I wanted a whole separate post about the use of the word in the Mattathias Schwartz article discussed in the previous post is that I found this 1986 article — "I Am Lapidary But Not Eristic When I Use Big Words" — by William F. Buckley Jr."