basis

noun

ba·​sis ˈbā-səs How to pronounce basis (audio)
plural bases ˈbā-ˌsēz How to pronounce basis (audio)
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)

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 The rest of Stumpy and the other trees will be ground into mulch and spread around the remaining cherry tree bases to protect their roots and provide nutrients to the soil. Kevin Ambrose, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Hefner works remotely on a contract basis in the entertainment industry, designing concept art for video games. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Related article Food prices hold steady, but Americans have a beef with the cost of a burger On a monthly basis, PPI rose 0.6%. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Santa Teresa 5, Pioneer 4 Jordan Jackson worked a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and lift Santa Teresa to a victory over Pioneer in a Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division opener. Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 The affordable housing commitment, which served as the basis for the team’s selection, is now an obligation memorialized in the team’s negotiation contract with the city. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 Rent of primary residences, on the other hand, climbed slightly more quickly, at 0.5 percent on a monthly basis, compared with 0.4 percent in January. Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 On a monthly basis, costs increased 0.4% following a 0.3% gain the previous month. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 This is a comfort to those who have so far only assumed this on a hunch basis. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at base entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of basis was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near basis

Cite this Entry

“Basis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basis. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

basis

noun
ba·​sis ˈbā-səs How to pronounce basis (audio)
plural bases ˈbā-ˌsēz How to pronounce basis (audio)
: something on which some other thing is based or established

Medical Definition

basis

noun
ba·​sis ˈbā-səs How to pronounce basis (audio)
plural bases -ˌsēz How to pronounce basis (audio)
1
: any of various anatomical parts that function as a foundation
2

Legal Definition

basis

noun
ba·​sis ˈbā-səs How to pronounce basis (audio)
plural bases -ˌsēz How to pronounce basis (audio)
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

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