theorem

noun

the·​o·​rem ˈthē-ə-rəm 

ˈthir-əm

1

: a formula, proposition, or statement in mathematics or logic deduced or to be deduced from other formulas or propositions

2

: an idea accepted or proposed as a demonstrable truth often as a part of a general theory : proposition

the theorem that the best defense is offense

3

: stencil

4

: a painting produced especially on velvet by the use of stencils for each color

theorematic

ˌthē-ə-rə-ˈma-tik 

ˌthir-ə-

adjective

Examples of theorem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cosmologists and mathematical physicists often seek ways to circumvent the theorem, looking to quantum gravity (or other non-standard scenarios) to break us out of the requirements that general relativity imposes. —Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025

Its shadow will at most stick out just a tiny bit past the first shadow, so the global theorem will only rule out a tiny box. —Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

In fact, the turbines were able to reach an efficiency of 53%, which is just shy of Betz's Law, a theorem that says no wind turbine would be able to convert more than about 59.3% of wind energy into power with the turning of rotor blades. —New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025

This is a direct consequence of no-go theorems like no-cloning, no-deleting, no-hiding and uncertainty—any attempt to eavesdrop alters the quantum signal, alerting the sender and receiver. —Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin theorema, from Greek theōrēma, from theōrein to look at, from theōros spectator, from thea act of seeing — more at theater entry 1

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing theorem

• Bayes's theorem
• Bayes theorem
• binomial theorem
• central limit theorem
• DeMoivre's theorem
• Fermat's last theorem
• Fourier's theorem
• Godel's theorem
• Jordan curve theorem
• mean value theorem
• Pythagorean theorem
• remainder theorem
• Rolle's theorem

Rhymes for theorem

• variorum
• antiserum
• serum
• thiram

Kids Definition

theorem

noun

the·​o·​rem ˈthē-ə-rəm 

ˈthi(-ə)r-əm

1

: a formula, proposition, or statement in mathematics or logic that has been or is to be proved from other formulas or propositions

2

: an idea accepted or proposed as a demonstrable truth