adjective
- appealing to one’s prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one’s intellect or reason.
- attacking an opponent’s character rather than answering his argument.
adjective, adverb
- directed against a person rather than against his arguments
- based on or appealing to emotion rather than reason
c.1600, Latin, literally “to a man,” from ad “to” (see ad-) + hominem, accusative of homo “man” (see homunculus).
A Latin expression meaning “to the man.” An ad hominem argument is one that relies on personal attacks rather than reason or substance.