An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Logic: An individual case or instance that falsifies a universal generalization. A counterexample to an → argument is a situation in which the → premises are → true, but the → conclusion is → false. For example, “All dogs are mammals” (true). “All cats are mammals” (true). “Therefore, all cats are dogs.” (false).

See also: → counter-; → example.