Semantic chameleon
About
A semantic chameleon is a word or phrase whose multiple meanings leave an easy opening to construct a fallacious argument that appears true. The fallacy can only be discovered by realizing that the same word or phrase is being used to refer to things that are not equivalent.
It may also refer to a phrase that has no precise meaning and is thus wide open for differing interpretations, making it useless in the clear expression of a rational position while providing solid service as an appeal to emotion or possibly a dogwhistle.
Semantic chameleons are typically used within semantic bait-and-switch arguments, where one definition is used as a "bait" (to get the audience to agree to a key premise) and the other is used as a "hook" (to force the audience to agree with the fallacious conclusion conflating the two definitions).
- Synonyms: chameleon word, chameleon phrase, semantic bait
Examples
See also: category:slippery language