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Apophenia: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Apophenia noun. The tendency to see meaningful patterns or connections in random or unrelated things.
How to say it
ap-oh-FEE-nee-uh/ˌapə(ʊ)ˈfiːnɪə/
5 syllables, stressed on the third (FEE).
Apophenia in a sentence
Spotting your birthday in every number plate is apophenia, not fate.
Conspiracy theories thrive on apophenia, joining dots that were never connected.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- pattern-seeking
Where apophenia comes from
Coined by the German psychiatrist Klaus Conrad in 1958, from Greek apophainein, to make plain.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Conspiracy theories thrive on _____, joining dots that were never connected.
- determinism
- apophenia
- ratiocination
Show the answer
apophenia: Conspiracy theories thrive on apophenia, joining dots that were never connected.