position paper

noun

: a detailed report that recommends a course of action on a particular issue

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Beijing, which is nominally neutral on Russia’s war with Ukraine, recently issued its position paper on the conflict, itemizing a 12-point peace plan that could settle matters. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023 In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua released ahead of his visit, Lukashenko is cited as saying the position paper was a testimony to China’s peaceful foreign policy and a new and original step that would have a far-reaching impact. Simone Mccarthy, CNN, 28 Feb. 2023 At last week’s Munich security conference, Wang Yi—China’s top diplomat—said that China would issue a position paper on the war in Ukraine later this week. Quartz, 21 Feb. 2023 A lot of people here in the Twin Cities believe this was an issue with Woodbury homes, but Woodbury was simply the one city who was bold enough to put out a position paper questioning the viability of stucco. Reuben Saltzman, Star Tribune, 11 Aug. 2020 In an exchange with Mark Shriver, I was pointed to this 2007 position paper in Science, The Science and Business of Genetic Ancestry Testing. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2012 The Society for Research on Biological Rhythms in 2019 published a position paper calling for the end of DST, citing its negative effect on health. Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022 This was a major contributing factor for the American Heart Association to recently write a position paper on NAFLD. Dr. Michael Daignault, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022 In a position paper published online on Friday, the group proposed abandoning the existing names for monkeypox virus clades — West Africa and Congo Basin — and replacing them with numbers, saying the current names are discriminatory. Helen Branswell, STAT, 13 June 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of position paper was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near position paper

Cite this Entry

“Position paper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/position%20paper. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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