axiom of choice
noun phrase
: an axiom in set theory that is equivalent to Zorn's lemma: for every collection of nonempty sets there is a function which chooses an element from each set
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Ultimately, most experts now agree on a framework called the Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with the axiom of choice, or ZFC for short.
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Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
The axiom of choice demonstrates the folly of believing that mathematical axioms are self-evident or obvious.
—Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
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Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
The axiom of choice demonstrates the folly of believing that mathematical axioms are self-evident or obvious.
—Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axiom of choice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axiom%20of%20choice. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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