different between pseudointellectual vs pseudo

English

Etymology

pseudo- (“false, fake”) +? intellectual

Noun

pseudointellectual (plural pseudointellectuals)

1. A person who claims proficiency in scholarly or artistic activities while lacking in-depth knowledge or critical understanding.
2. A person who pretends to be of greater intelligence than he or she in fact is.

Usage notes

Usage is fraught, and pseudointellectual may be used as a general term of abuse for intellectuals one dislikes or disagrees with. Nevertheless, in more careful use a rather clear distinction is drawn: a pseudointellectual is someone dishonestly or insincerely using the language, style, or topics of an intellectual, but who lacks the goals, morals, or ability of a “genuine” intellectual. It is someone who acts pretentiously and wishes to win an argument or impress, rather than modestly trying to find the truth – a focus on surface and rhetoric over content. These often involve a superficial understanding of a subject and condescension to the audience, as well as possible self-delusion (not being consciously dishonest, but rather sincerely thinking oneself to be behaving as a genuine intellectual despite one's incompetence).

Synonyms

• pseud
• pseudo

See also

• See also Thesaurus:deceiver
• charlatan
• fraud
• sophist

Adjective

pseudointellectual (comparative more pseudointellectual, superlative most pseudointellectual)

1. Pretentiously or insincerely intellectual.

References

• Sydney J. Harris, circa 1981 November 20 (syndicated column), published as “Distinctions Between Intellectuals And Pseudo-Intellectuals” (mirror) in the Detroit Free Press, (11/20/81) and “Telling the real from the pseudo”, Sarasota Journal, Nov 23, 1981, among others

English

Etymology

From Middle English, derived from prefix pseudo-, itself derived from Ancient Greek ?????? (pseud?s, “false, lying”)

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s(j)u?d??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?su?do?/
• Rhymes: -u?d??

Noun

pseudo (plural pseudos)

1. An intellectually pretentious person; a pseudointellectual.
2. A poseur; one who is fake.
3. (travel industry, informal) pseudo-city code
4. (Internet, clipping) A pseudonym; a false name used for online anonymity.
5. Clipping of pseudoephedrine.

Alternative forms

• pseud

References

• The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary

Adjective

pseudo (not comparable)

1. Other than what is apparent; spurious; sham.
2. Insincere.

Translations

References

• The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary

Anagrams

• does up, doupes, souped

French

Etymology

Clipping of pseudonyme.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /psø.do/

Noun

pseudo m (plural pseudos)

1. A nickname, handle or pseudonym.

Further reading

• “pseudo” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).