proposition

1 of 2

noun

prop·​o·​si·​tion ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-shən 

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

propositional

ˌprä-pə-ˈzish-nəl 

-ˈzi-shə-nᵊl

adjective

proposition

2 of 2

verb

propositioned; propositioning ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to make a proposal to

especially : to suggest sexual intercourse to

Synonyms

Noun

• hypothesis
• supposition
• theory
• thesis

Examples of proposition in a Sentence

Noun

He made an attractive business proposition.

The other company rejected their proposition.

Her theory rejects the basic proposition that humans evolved from apes.

If we accept proposition “A” as true, then we must accept proposition “B” as false.

The election will be a tough proposition for the mayor.

Verb

He was propositioned by a prostitute.

He got drunk and propositioned a woman sitting next to him in the bar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Renting offers a more attractive economic proposition than owning right now. —Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024

And all but one of the projects selected to receive the proposition’s $2.7 billion in water supply funding fulfill those criteria. —Max Gomberg, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

proposition

noun

prop·​o·​si·​tion

ˌpräp-ə-ˈzish-ən

1

: something offered to be thought about or accepted : proposal

a business proposition

2

: an expression (as in logic) to be proved or explained

3

: something of a certain kind which one must deal with

the mine will never be a paying proposition

fixing that roof will be a tough proposition