proposition

¹prop·o·si·tion

noun \ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-shən\

Definition of PROPOSITION

1

a (1) : something offered for consideration or acceptance : proposal (2) : a request for sexual intercourse

b : the point to be discussed or maintained in argument usually stated in sentence form near the outset

c : a theorem or problem to be demonstrated or performed

2

a : an expression in language or signs of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false

b : the objective meaning of a proposition

3

: something of an indicated kind to be dealt with <the farm was never a paying proposition>

— prop·o·si·tion·al \-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of PROPOSITION

1. He made an attractive business proposition.
2. The other company rejected their proposition.
3. Her theory rejects the basic proposition that humans evolved from apes.
4. If we accept proposition “A” as true, then we must accept proposition “B” as false.
5. The election will be a tough proposition for the mayor.

First Known Use of PROPOSITION

14th century

Related to PROPOSITION

Synonyms

hypothesis, theory, supposition, thesis

Related Words

assumption, concession, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, theorem; conjecture, generalization, guess, guesswork, inference, speculation, surmise; proffer, proposal, suggestion; feeling, hunch, impression, inkling, notion, suspicion; abstraction, concept, conception, construct

Near Antonyms

assurance, certainty, fact, knowledge

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

Rhymes with PROPOSITION

acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, apposition, coalition, co-edition, competition, composition, cosmetician, decommission, decondition, definition, demolition, deposition, dietitian, disposition, disquisition, electrician, erudition, exhibition, expedition, exposition, extradition, first edition, imposition, in addition, inanition, in commission, inhibition, inquisition, intermission, intromission, intuition, linguistician, logistician, malnutrition, malposition, manumission, mathematician, mechanician, micturition, obstetrician, on commission, opposition, Ordovician, parturition, politician, precognition, precondition, premonition, preposition, recognition, recondition, repetition, requisition, rescue mission, rhetorician, self-ignition, statistician, submunition, superstition, supposition, text edition, trade edition, transposition

²proposition

transitive verb

proposi·tionedproposi·tion·ing \-ˈzi-sh(ə-)niŋ\

Definition of PROPOSITION

: to make a proposal to; especially : to suggest sexual intercourse to

Examples of PROPOSITION

1. He was propositioned by a prostitute.
2. He got drunk and propositioned a woman sitting next to him in the bar.

First Known Use of PROPOSITION

1924

Rhymes with PROPOSITION

first edition, in addition, in commission, on commission, Ordovician, precondition, requisition, rescue mission, text edition, trade edition