assumption

[uh-suhmp-shuhn]

noun

1. something taken for granted; a supposition.

   a correct assumption.

   Synonyms: theory, postulate, guess, conjecture, hypothesis, presupposition

2. the act of taking for granted or supposing.

   Synonyms: presupposition, presumption

3. the act of taking to or upon oneself.

   Synonyms: acceptance

4. the act of taking possession of something.

   the assumption of power.

   Synonyms: usurpation, appropriation, seizure

5. arrogance; presumption.

   Synonyms: gall, forwardness, effrontery

6. the taking over of another's debts or obligations.

7. Ecclesiastical.

   1. (often initial capital letter),  the bodily taking up into heaven of the Virgin Mary.

   2. (initial capital letter),  a feast commemorating this, celebrated on August 15.

8. Logic.,  the minor premise of a syllogism.

assumption

¹

/ əˈsʌmpʃən /

noun

1. the act of taking something for granted or something that is taken for granted

2. an assuming of power or possession of something

3. arrogance; presumption

4. logic a statement that is used as the premise of a particular argument but may not be otherwise accepted Compare axiom

Assumption

²

/ əˈsʌmpʃən /

noun

1. the taking up of the Virgin Mary (body and soul) into heaven when her earthly life was ended

2. the feast commemorating this, celebrated by Roman Catholics on Aug 15

Other Word Forms

• misassumption noun
• nonassumption noun
• overassumption noun
• preassumption noun
• reassumption noun
• self-assumption noun
• superassumption noun
• assumptively adverb
• assumptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assumption¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English assumpcioun, assompcioun, assumsion, from Latin assūmptiōn- (stem of assūmptiō ), equivalent to assūmpt(us) “taken up” (past participle of assūmere ) + -iōn- noun suffix; assume, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of assumption¹

C13: from Latin assūmptiō a taking up, from assūmere to _assume

Example Sentences

Efforts to address inequality by taxing or regulating the rich may, however, rest on a mistaken assumption — that the public generally condemns extreme wealth.

Read more on Salon

“There were poor assumptions made that proved to be false,” said Matt Ouimet, a former CEO of Cedar Fair who stepped down in 2017.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And, more to the point, that making assumptions about other people’s experience can be extremely dangerous.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The assumption of brisk superiority is really a defensive position.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When he was preparing to move to the major leagues, the assumption in the United States and Japan was that he would eventually have to pick between pitching and hitting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceptance 
• belief 
• expectation 
• guess 
• hunch 
• hypothesis 
• inference 
• premise 
• presumption 
• supposition 
• suspicion 
• theory