modus ponens

[ moh-duhs poh-nenz ]

noun

, Logic.

, plural mo·dus po·nen·tes [moh, -d, uh, s poh-, nen, -teez].

1. the reasoning that, when a conditional statement is accepted as true, as “ If X is red, then Y is blue,” it can be inferred when the antecedent is known to be true, as “X is red,” that its consequent, “Y is blue,” is affirmed.
2. an argument based on the reasoning of modus ponens:

   A simple modus ponens might begin with “If Joe sneezes, Tom laughs.”

modus ponens

/ ˈməʊdəs ˈpəʊˌnɛnz /

noun

1. logic the principle that whenever a conditional statement and its antecedent are given to be true its consequent may be validly inferred, as in if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium and it's Tuesday so this must be Belgium

Word History and Origins

Origin of modus ponens¹

First recorded in 1835–40; New Latin: literally “affirming mode”

Word History and Origins

Origin of modus ponens¹

literally: mood that affirms