axiomatic

American  

[ak-see-uh-mat-ik] / ˌæk si əˈmæt ɪk /

Also axiomatical

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of an axiom; self-evident; obvious.

2. aphoristic.

---

axiomatic British  

/ ˌæksɪəˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. relating to or resembling an axiom; self-evident

2. containing maxims; aphoristic

3. (of a logical system) consisting of a set of axioms from which theorems are derived by transformation rules Compare natural deduction

---

Other Word Forms

• axiomatically adverb
• nonaxiomatic adjective
• nonaxiomatical adjective
• nonaxiomatically adverb
• unaxiomatic adjective
• unaxiomatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of axiomatic

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Greek axiōmatikós, equivalent to axiōmat- (stem of axíōma axiom ) + -ikos -ic

Explanation

An axiom is a self-evident truth. The authors of the Declaration of Independence could have written, “We hold these truths to be axiomatic,” but it wouldn't have the same ring. The root word of axiomatic, axiom, derives from the Greek axioma, meaning "authority," or "that which is thought worthy or fit." We use it to describe statements that have the authority of truth about them, or that seem worthy of the truth, or fit to be described as such. That is, an axiom is a proposition that we don’t generally question because it seems plain enough that it’s true. And axiomatic means evident without proof or argument.

Example Sentences

IIT starts out by formulating five axiomatic properties of any conceivable subjective experience.

From Scientific American • Sep. 8, 2023

It’s axiomatic in hockey that the team that works the hardest often wins, and that’s exactly what we’ve seen from the Kraken this season.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2023

The reason, as always, seemed axiomatic: Ocean was performing because that’s what performers do.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2023

Americans consider it to be almost axiomatic that jobs that require a college degree are “more professional” than those that don’t.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2023

Still, this was not the old two-spheres theory, and it was now axiomatic that earth and water had a single centre, which was both the geometrical and the gravitational centre of the globe.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton