also: エセかがく
Refers to claims, beliefs, or practices presented as scientific but lacking empirical support. Often used critically. Compare with 疑似科学 (giji kagaku), which is a more formal term.
See also: 疑似科学
Let's look up reliable information so we aren't fooled by pseudoscience.
His claims were criticized as pseudoscience.
疑似科学 is a more formal and neutral term for pseudoscience, while 似非科学 carries a stronger negative connotation and is often used in critical contexts.
Standard kanji spelling using 似非 (ese, pseudo-) and 科学 (science).
Katakana spelling of the prefix エセ, common in informal writing.
Hiragana spelling of the prefix えせ, used for clarity or in casual contexts.
Compound of 似非 (ese, 'pseudo-', 'fake') and 科学 (kagaku, 'science'). The prefix 似非 is an ateji reading for えせ, which originally meant 'false' or 'imitation'.