proposition

[prop-uh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted, adopted, or done.

2. a plan or scheme proposed.

3. an offer of terms for a transaction, as in business.

4. a thing, matter, or person considered as something to be dealt with or encountered.

   Keeping diplomatic channels open is a serious proposition.

5. anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.

6. Rhetoric.,  a statement of the subject of an argument or a discourse, or of the course of action or essential idea to be advocated.

7. Logic.,  a statement in which something is affirmed or denied, so that it can therefore be significantly characterized as either true or false.

8. Mathematics.,  a formal statement of either a truth to be demonstrated or an operation to be performed; a theorem or a problem.

9. a proposal of usually illicit sexual relations.

verb (used with object)

1. to propose sexual relations to.

2. to propose a plan, deal, etc., to.

proposition

/ ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a proposal or topic presented for consideration

2. philosophy

   1. the content of a sentence that affirms or denies something and is capable of being true or false

   2. the meaning of such a sentence: I am warm always expresses the same proposition whoever the speaker is Compare statement

3. maths a statement or theorem, usually containing its proof

4. informal,  a person or matter to be dealt with

   he's a difficult proposition

5. an invitation to engage in sexual intercourse

verb

1. (tr) to propose a plan, deal, etc, to, esp to engage in sexual intercourse

Other Word Forms

• propositional adjective
• propositionally adverb
• underproposition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of proposition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English proposicio(u)n, from Latin prōpositiōn- (stem of prōpositiō ) “a setting forth.” See propositus, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of proposition¹

C14 proposicioun, from Latin prōpositiō a setting forth; see _propose

Synonym Study

See proposal.

Example Sentences

Ads opposing the proposition aired less frequently before disappearing from television altogether in recent days.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some supporters characterize opposition to the proposition as a form of political complacency or inaction in the face of what they view as executive overreach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More than $192 million has flowed into various campaign committees since state lawmakers voted in August to put the proposition on the ballot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Opponents of the proposition have focused on the mechanics of redistricting, arguing the ballot measure subverts the will of California voters who enacted the independent redistricting commission more than a decade ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This proposition wasn’t foisted on the new nation by some elite cabal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• hypothesis 
• invitation 
• motion 
• premise 
• proposal 
• recommendation