An ad hominem argument is a type of logical fallacy where a person attacks their opponent's character, motive, or other personal attributes instead of addressing the actual argument or issue at hand. This tactic often seeks to undermine the opponent's credibility or divert attention away from the argument being presented.
For example, if Person A presents a valid point about environmental policy, and Person B responds by saying, "You can't trust Person A's opinion because they drive a gas-guzzling car," that response is an ad hominem attack. Instead of engaging with the argument about environmental policy, Person B is focusing on Person A's personal choices to discredit the discussion.