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prop·o·si·tion
ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-shən 
1
a(1)
: something offered for consideration or acceptance : proposal
(2)
: a request for sexual intercourse
b
: the point to be discussed or maintained in argument usually stated in sentence form near the outset
c
: a theorem or problem to be demonstrated or performed
2
a
: an expression in language or signs of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false
b
: the objective meaning of a proposition
3
: something of an indicated kind to be dealt with
the farm was never a paying proposition
propositioned; propositioning
ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)niŋ
: to make a proposal to
especially
: to suggest sexual intercourse to
Example Sentences
Noun
He made an attractive business proposition.
The other company rejected their proposition.
Her theory rejects the basic proposition that humans evolved from apes.
If we accept proposition “A” as true, then we must accept proposition “B” as false.
The election will be a tough proposition for the mayor.
Verb
He was propositioned by a prostitute.
He got drunk and propositioned a woman sitting next to him in the bar.
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Recent Examples on the Web
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023
And at this point, West Virginia looks — by design — like a year-to-year proposition.
—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2023
In a sense, the novel fulfills its first line's proposition: as an incantation of an artist's name and, by implication, an artist's way.
—Joan Frank, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2023
After California resolved the crisis—basically by re-regulating and subsidizing electricity—the bubble burst, making frequency regulation as a V2G service a much less attractive business proposition.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2023
In 2024, Biden has a good shot at uniting Democrats around a simpler, politically safer proposition: defending the status quo by raising taxes on the most affluent Americans.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2023
With 20 calories per serving, Everest Full Spectrum Gummies offer an optimal proposition for weight management regimes.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023
Steering students away from college altogether is also a losing proposition—not just because that’s where most job growth still tends to be, but also because higher education still has real value.
—Jack Schneider, The New Republic, 27 Feb. 2023
Following by way of an industry wrap, a dozen takeaways on the 2023 Berlin market, including its Berlinale Series Market, an ever more building proposition at the Festival.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2019
And in 2015, an Uber manager was accused of propositioning Susan Fowler, a young site reliability engineer, on her first day on the job.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The story, which featured Judd publicly accusing Weinstein of propositioning her in 1997, sparked an avalanche of accusations from women who came forward with similar accounts and ultimately numbered 80.
—Chris Francescani, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2020
Warren did not accuse Reinhardt of ever touching or propositioning her.
—Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, 21 Feb. 2020
Dugan alleges that prior to her hiring, Katz propositioned her and tried to kiss her at a dinner.
—Time, 24 Jan. 2020
In 2017, Agrawal was cast out of Thinx just as a former employee filed a complaint claiming that Agrawal groped a staff member’s breasts, exposed herself in the office and propositioned an employee.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2019
Johnson denied harassing, groping or propositioning any court colleagues or employees and noted that his chief accuser, Justice Victoria Chaney, had recommended him to then-Gov.
—Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, 6 Jan. 2020
Fowler says her boss propositioned her and higher-ups ignored her complaints.
—Fortune, 24 Dec. 2019
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Noun
Fire Chief Colin Stowell said what Falck wants would make the new model a losing financial proposition for the city.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023
And at this point, West Virginia looks — by design — like a year-to-year proposition.
—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2023
In a sense, the novel fulfills its first line's proposition: as an incantation of an artist's name and, by implication, an artist's way.
—Joan Frank, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2023
After California resolved the crisis—basically by re-regulating and subsidizing electricity—the bubble burst, making frequency regulation as a V2G service a much less attractive business proposition.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2023
In 2024, Biden has a good shot at uniting Democrats around a simpler, politically safer proposition: defending the status quo by raising taxes on the most affluent Americans.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2023
With 20 calories per serving, Everest Full Spectrum Gummies offer an optimal proposition for weight management regimes.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023
Steering students away from college altogether is also a losing proposition—not just because that’s where most job growth still tends to be, but also because higher education still has real value.
—Jack Schneider, The New Republic, 27 Feb. 2023
Following by way of an industry wrap, a dozen takeaways on the 2023 Berlin market, including its Berlinale Series Market, an ever more building proposition at the Festival.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
Verb
The letters described a constellation of abuses of power and influence, including being propositioned after class and on yoga retreats, forcibly kissed during private meditation sessions and assaulted on post-yoga massage tables.
—Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2019
And in 2015, an Uber manager was accused of propositioning Susan Fowler, a young site reliability engineer, on her first day on the job.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The story, which featured Judd publicly accusing Weinstein of propositioning her in 1997, sparked an avalanche of accusations from women who came forward with similar accounts and ultimately numbered 80.
—Chris Francescani, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2020
Warren did not accuse Reinhardt of ever touching or propositioning her.
—Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, 21 Feb. 2020
Dugan alleges that prior to her hiring, Katz propositioned her and tried to kiss her at a dinner.
—Time, 24 Jan. 2020
In 2017, Agrawal was cast out of Thinx just as a former employee filed a complaint claiming that Agrawal groped a staff member’s breasts, exposed herself in the office and propositioned an employee.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2019
Johnson denied harassing, groping or propositioning any court colleagues or employees and noted that his chief accuser, Justice Victoria Chaney, had recommended him to then-Gov.
—Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, 6 Jan. 2020
Fowler says her boss propositioned her and higher-ups ignored her complaints.
—Fortune, 24 Dec. 2019
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proposition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
1922, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of proposition was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near proposition
Cite this Entry
“Proposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proposition. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
proposition
noun
prop·o·si·tion
ˌpräp-ə-ˈzish-ən
1
: something offered to be thought about or accepted : proposal
a business proposition
2
: an expression (as in logic) to be proved or explained
3
: something of a certain kind which one must deal with
the mine will never be a paying proposition
fixing that roof will be a tough proposition
More from Merriam-Webster on proposition
Nglish: Translation of proposition for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of proposition for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about proposition
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