Argument - Definition and Overview

Argument may refer to:

• (in logic) a logical argument, that is, an attempt to prove a demonstration of the truth of a conclusion based on the truth of a set of premises
• (in mathematics) at least three different things:
  • a parameter or independent variable that is the input to a function (in the function f(x), for example, x is the argument)
  • in complex analysis one component of the mod-arg form of that number (see complex number)
  • the line of reasoning that a proof of a proposition follows
• (in linguistics) at least two different things:
  • the so-called core arguments of a verb, that is, the phrases that make up the sentence in combination with it
  • arguments to predicates and other sentential elements, such as the prepositional argument in "under the table" (which is the prepositional object "the table")
• (in literature) a grand argument is a conceptually complete story with both an emotional and logical comprehensiveness.
• (in computer science, informally) an actual parameter passed to a subprogram (analogous to the first sense listed above for mathematics)
• (in oratory or law) the presentation of evidential reasoning in an attempt to persuade the listener of the correctness of the speaker's position (this usage not only covers logical arguments but also includes other forms of persuasion, such as purely emotional arguments)
• (in common usage) a dispute, disagreement or antagonistic discussion