Meaning of non sequitur | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Any abrupt and inexplicable transition or occurrence.
2. Any invalid argument in which the conclusion cannot be logically deduced from the premises.
3. A statement that does not logically follow a statement that preceded it.
4. A kind of pun that uses a change of word, subject, or meaning to make a joke of the listener’s expectation.

Equivalents

Examples

“Having a costumed superhero abduct the vicar was an utter non sequitur in the novel.”

“Non sequiturs, gratuitous acts, frustrating ellipses, ambiguities, a dearth of emotion: Miss [Lillian] Hellman avails herself of all these current techniques in telling a story that she keeps telling us may not be a story at all.”

“Ralph Wiggum is generally employed as a bottomless fount of glorious non sequiturs, but in “I Love Lisa” he stands in for every oblivious chump who ever deluded himself into thinking that with persistence, determination, and a pure heart he can win the girl of his dreams.”

CEFR level