Definition of AXIOMATIC

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An axiom is a principle widely accepted on the basis of its intrinsic merit or one regarded as self-evidently true. A statement that is axiomatic therefore, is one against which few people would argue. "Axiomatic" entered English from Middle Greek axiōmatikos, and "axiom" derived via Latin from Greek axiōma ("something worthy") and "axios" ("worthy"). The word axiom can also refer to a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference. Such axioms are often employed in discussions of philosophy, as well as in mathematics and geometry (where they are sometimes called postulates).

Examples of axiomatic in a Sentence

It is axiomatic that good athletes have a strong mental attitude. it's axiomatic that the instinct for self-preservation is universal throughout the animal kingdom

Recent Examples on the Web That's proved axiomatic during the coronavirus outbreak. — Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Multinationals see a new coronavirus red flag on the horizon—a stronger dollar," 10 Feb. 2020 What Harris appears to have realized in his great epiphany is that conflict plays a crucial role in politics and that bipartisanship is not an axiomatic good. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "The Media Has a Right-Wing Bias. Politico’s Founder Just Admitted It.," 8 Nov. 2019 The terrorist movement known as Daesh (or Islamic State) regards the legitimacy of slavery under Islam as axiomatic, and questions the right of anyone who thinks otherwise to be considered Muslim. — The Economist, "Everywhere in chains," 27 Aug. 2019 Several researchers working on reconstructions now hope that its axiomatic approach will help us see how to pose quantum theory in a way that forges a connection with the modern theory of gravitation — Einstein’s general relativity. — Quanta Magazine, "Quantum Theory Rebuilt From Simple Physical Principles," 30 Aug. 2017 Mathematical logic was developed with the hope of placing mathematics on firm foundations — as an axiomatic system, free of contradiction, that could keep reasoning from slipping into incoherence. — Quanta Magazine, "Why the Proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem Doesn’t Need to Be Enhanced," 3 June 2019 This philosophy was already axiomatic in the genre of the memoir, but no one has done more than Mr. Knausgaard to popularize it in the novel, emboldening a floodtide of followers that include Sheila Heti, Ben Lerner, Elif Batuman and Keith Gessen. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction: The End of a Monstrous Struggle," 13 Sep. 2018 Others believed that the immutability of the blockchain was axiomatic; by that logic, the record—theft and all—should never be manipulated. — Gideon Lewis-kraus, WIRED, "The Blockchain: A Love Story—And a Horror Story," 18 June 2018 Plain and axiomatic as the real medical causes now seem to us, the majority view, from the ancient Romans to the Edwardian Celts, was intensely superstitious. — Longreads, "Fairy Scapegoats: A History of the Persecution of Changeling Children," 9 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'axiomatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.