axiom
Americannoun
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a self-evident truth that requires no proof.
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a universally accepted principle or rule.
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Logic, Mathematics. a proposition that is assumed without proof for the sake of studying the consequences that follow from it.
noun
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a generally accepted proposition or principle, sanctioned by experience; maxim
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a universally established principle or law that is not a necessary truth
the axioms of politics
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a self-evident statement
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logic maths a statement or formula that is stipulated to be true for the purpose of a chain of reasoning: the foundation of a formal deductive system Compare assumption
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A principle that is accepted as true without proof. The statement “For every two points P and Q there is a unique line that contains both P and Q” is an axiom because no other information is given about points or lines, and therefore it cannot be proven.
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Also called postulate
Discover More
The term axiomatic is used generally to refer to a statement so obvious that it needs no proof.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of axiom
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin axiōma, from Greek: “something worthy,” equivalent to axiō-, variant stem of axioûn “to reckon worthy” + -ma, noun suffix
Explanation
An axiom is a statement that everyone believes is true, such as "the only constant is change." Mathematicians use the word axiom to refer to an established proof. The word axiom comes from a Greek word meaning “worthy.” An axiom is a worthy, established fact. For philosophers, an axiom is a statement like “something can’t be true and not be true at the same time.” An example of a mathematical axiom is “a number is equal to itself.” In everyday usage, an axiom is just a common saying, but it’s one that pretty much everyone agrees on.
Vocabulary lists containing axiom
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Axiom has done the engineering - including, for the first time, a backup cooling loop in case the primary fails.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Several companies, including Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin and Axiom Space, are already working on plans to build the first commercial space station.
From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026
If it succeeds, Axiom might just crack problems that have perplexed mere humans for centuries.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
Additionally, Lonestar Data Holdings said in March that it had successfully tested a small data center on the moon, while Axiom Space launched an orbital-data-center prototype to the International Space Station in August.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025
Such a property is given in Axiom 10, I. It is really this axiom, together with Postulates 2 and 3, which characterizes the straight line.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 6 "Geodesy" to "Geometry" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
