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

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 This inverse relationship has been axiomatic for oil markets. — Christopher Alessi, WSJ, "For Oil Prices, Political Risks Dwarf the Dollar," 29 May 2018 But the interpretation of that axiomatic truth often reflects deep confusion about teachers and their profession. — Kenan Jaffe, Fortune, "I Get Paid to Teach High School Students, Not to Kill or Die on the Job," 1 Mar. 2018 In all three cases, the ACLU proffers, as axiomatic, that religious accommodations that burden third parties violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. — Margot Cleveland, National Review, "ACLU Distorts the Purpose of a Federal Effort to Protect Religious Liberty," 19 Jan. 2018 Since the only point of using budget reconciliation was to enable Republicans not to work with Democrats, the requirement was axiomatic. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Republicans Didn’t Reform the Tax Code. They Never Wanted To.," 20 Dec. 2017

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.