basis

noun

ba·​sis ˈbā-səs 

plural bases ˈbā-ˌsēz 

1

: the bottom of something considered as its foundation

2

: the principal component of something

Fruit juice constitutes the basis of jelly.

3

a

: something on which something else is established or based

stories with little basis in reality

no legal basis for a new trial

still some basis for hope

selected on the basis of test scores

b

: an underlying condition or state of affairs

hired on a trial basis

He is on a first-name basis with his customers.

c

: a fixed pattern or system

meets with us on a regular basis [=regularly]

The department sends reports on a daily basis. [=every day]

4

: the basic principle

concepts that form the basis of the country's economic policies

5

mathematics : a set of linearly independent vectors (see vector entry 1 sense 1a) in a vector space such that any vector in the vector space can be expressed as a linear combination of them with appropriately chosen coefficients (see coefficient sense 1)

Synonyms

• base
• bedrock
• bottom
• cornerstone
• footing
• foundation
• ground
• groundwork
• keystone
• root
• underpinning
• warp
• warp and woof

Examples of basis in a Sentence

The company does not hire employees on the basis of their race, sex, age, or religion.

the sole basis for the rumor is someone's overactive imagination

Recent Examples on the Web

Fun, health, fitness and wellness are on his agenda on a daily basis. —Linda Gandee, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2023

Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Midwest will broadcast the game on a regional basis. —Creg Stephenson | [e-mail], al, 10 Sep. 2023

But the Red Sox answered with three runs in the bottom half off Jacob Webb, though Danny Coulombe left the bases loaded in the frame. —Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 10 Sep. 2023

That’s why Alabama, after six national titles under Saban, is No. 1 in the Misery Index, a weekly measurement of which fan bases are feeling the most angst about the state of their favorite program. —Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023

Look, my sense is, there’s a lot of governors kind of sitting -- sitting on the sidelines saying, how does this all play out, just like most of the Republican bases. —ABC News, 10 Sep. 2023

Vest then walked Jimenez on six pitches to load the bases. —Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023

Dumb Money will be released on a limited basis on Sept. 15 and widely on Sept. 29. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023

But trailing, 12-9, with the bases loaded, Triston Casas just missed the sweet spot on a Coulombe cutter, skying out to center to end the threat. —Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at base entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing basis

• basis point
• on a first-come, first-served basis
• on a friendly basis
• on a first-name basis
• on a nightly basis
• on a rotating basis
• on a day-to-day basis
• on the basis of
• on what basis
• on a trial basis

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• basis point
• on a first-come, first-served basis
• on a friendly basis
• on a first-name basis
• on a nightly basis
• on a rotating basis
• on a day-to-day basis
• on the basis of
• on what basis
• on a trial basis

See More

Kids Definition

basis

noun

ba·​sis ˈbā-səs 

plural bases ˈbā-ˌsēz 

: something on which some other thing is based or established

Medical Definition

basis

noun

ba·​sis ˈbā-səs 

plural bases -ˌsēz 

1

: any of various anatomical parts that function as a foundation

2

: base sense 2b

Legal Definition

basis

noun

ba·​sis ˈbā-səs 

plural bases -ˌsēz 

1

: something (as a principle or reason) on which something else is established

the court could not imagine any conceivable basis for the statute

see also rational basis

2

: a basic principle or method

especially : the principle or method by which taxable income is calculated

Note: The Internal Revenue Code has set some limits on which method a taxpayer may use for figuring taxable income. For example, a corporation with gross receipts under $5,000,000 may be a cash-basis taxpayer.

— accrual basis

: a method of accounting in which income and expenses are recorded in the period when they are earned or incurred regardless of when the payment is received or made

called also accrual method

— cash basis

: a method of accounting in which income and expenses are recorded in the period when payment is received or made

called also cash method

3

: the value (as cost or fair market value) of an asset used in calculating capital gains or losses for income tax purposes

— adjusted basis

: the basis of an asset increased or decreased to reflect changes in value (as through improvement or depreciation)

— carryover basis \ ˈkar-​ē-​ˌō-​vər-​ \

: the basis of a donated or transferred asset that is equal to the basis of the asset when it was in the hands of the donor or transferor

Note: Carryover basis is generally applied to gifts and to transfers in trust.

— cost basis

: the basis of an asset equal to the amount paid for the asset plus other acquisition costs

— stepped-up basis \ ˈstept-​ˈəp-​ \

: the basis of inherited property equal to its market value at the decedent's date of death or to an alternate valuation

— substituted basis

: the basis of property received in exchange for property of a like kind that is equal to the basis of the property given with adjustments for additional consideration received or gains and losses realized