assertion

[uh-sur-shuhn]

noun

1. a positive statement or declaration, often without support or reason.

   a mere assertion;

   an unwarranted assertion.

   Synonyms: allegation, contention, claim

2. an act of asserting.

assertion

/ əˈsɜːʃən /

noun

1. a positive statement, usually made without an attempt at furnishing evidence

2. the act of asserting

Other Word Forms

• assertional adjective
• misassertion noun
• nonassertion noun
• overassertion noun
• reassertion noun
• superassertion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of assertion¹

1375–1425; late Middle English assercion < Latin assertiōn- (stem of assertiō ). See assert, -ion

Example Sentences

Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and other public health experts criticized Prasad’s assertions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Its assertion that “studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism” is a travesty of the scientific method.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

An Alibaba Group spokesperson told AFP "the assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false".

Read more on Barron's

Time Magazine also reported that Greene "privately told allies" she was considering a presidential bid, but Greene quickly dismissed the assertion as a "complete lie".

Read more on BBC

He described the actions of Turness as "honourable" and "proper", repeating her assertion that the "buck stops" with her.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• affirmation 
• allegation 
• contention 
• insistence 
• pronouncement