premise

1 of 2

noun

prem·​ise ˈpre-məs 

variants or less commonly premiss

1

logic

a

: a proposition supposed or proved prior as a basis of argument or inference

specifically : either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn

In a valid argument, if the premises are true, then the conclusion must also be true.

b

: something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition

The programs operate on the premise that customers will return if they're promised an extra reward, or freebie, for patronizing a business.

—Marina Strauss

2

: the primary plot or storyline of a literary work, television show, etc.

The premise of Mr. Lapine's book is that Cinderella, Jack, Red Ridinghood, and Rapunzel all live in the vicinity of an enchanted wood.

—Mimi Kramer

The first season of Weeds didn't give me a buzz. The premise—a recently widowed suburban mom sets up a marijuana dealership so she can pay the mortgage—seemed contrived and too cute …

—Tom Gliatto

3

premises also premisses plural : matters previously stated

specifically, law : the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity

4

premises also premisses plural [from its being identified in the premises of the deed]

a

: an area of land with the buildings that are on it

They were asked to leave the premises.

Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises.

—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

b

: a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (such as grounds)

premise

2 of 2

verb

pre·​mise ˈpre-məs 

 also  pri-ˈmīz

premised; premising; premises

transitive verb

1

a

: to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate

b

: to offer as a premise in an argument

2

: postulate

3

: to base on certain assumptions

… adopted a government premised on private rights and strictly limited public powers.

—Elizabeth Mensch

Synonyms of premise

Noun

• assumption
• theory

Verb

• say
• assume
• presume
• believe
• think
• suppose
• postulate

Examples of premise in a Sentence

Noun

Called behavioral ecology, it starts from the premise that social and environmental forces select for various behaviors that optimize people's fitness in a given environment. Different environment, different behaviors—and different human "natures." —Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009

Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994

Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992

They were asked to leave the premises.

The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.

The premises were searched by the police.

He disagreed with her premise.

the basic premises of the argument

a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down

Verb

Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was. —Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007

Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006

let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The sprawling premise gave Gilligan his first opportunity to film outside of North America, including stops in northern Spain and the Canary Islands. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025

Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Verb

Fine dining, as a genre, is premised on exclusivity and scarcity, the sense that money functions as a private code. —Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025

For instance, an injunction to stop a company from polluting a lake is premised on the idea that damage to a lake and the life in it is irreparable. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing premise

• major premise
• minor premise

Kids Definition

premise

1 of 2 noun

prem·​ise ˈprem-əs 

1

: a statement taken to be true and used as a basis for argument or reasoning

2

plural

a

: a piece of land with the buildings on it

b

: a building or part of a building usually with its grounds

premise

2 of 2 verb

pre·​mise ˈprem-əs 

pri-ˈmīz

premised; premising

: to base on certain assumptions

a conclusion premised on stereotypes