basis
Americannoun
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bases
plural
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the bottom or base of anything; the part on which something stands or rests.
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anything upon which something is based; fundamental principle; groundwork.
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the principal constituent; fundamental ingredient.
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a basic fact, amount, standard, etc., used in making computations, reaching conclusions, or the like.
The nurse is paid on an hourly basis. He was chosen on the basis of his college grades.
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Mathematics. a set of linearly independent elements of a given vector space having the property that every element of the space can be written as a linear combination of the elements of the set.
noun
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something that underlies, supports, or is essential to something else, esp an abstract idea
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a principle on which something depends or from which something has issued
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maths (of a vector space) a maximal set of linearly independent vectors, in terms of which all the elements of the space are uniquely expressible, and the number of which is the dimension of the space
the vectors x, y and z form a basis of the 3-dimensional space all members of which can be written as ax + by + cz
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bases
plural
Usage
Plural word for basis The plural form of basis is bases, pronounced [ bey-seez ]. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -is are also formed in this way, including hypothesis/hypotheses, crisis/crises, and axis/axes. A similar change is made when pluralizing appendix as appendices. Irregular plurals that are formed like bases derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin and Greek.
Synonym Usage
See base 1.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of basis
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin, from Greek básis “step, place one stands on, pedestal,” from ba(ínein) “to walk, step” ( see also come) + -sis -sis; cf. base 1
Explanation
Basis is the underlying reason or assumption. The basis of a dictionary is that people are curious to learn the meanings of new words. You are interested, right? Basis can also apply to a system or pattern that has been established. For example: Since your job is so exhausting, you need vacations on a regular basis. The basis of democracy is regular free elections. Not surprisingly, as its sense of something from which other things spring, basis comes from the Latin word of the same spelling meaning "foundation."
Vocabulary lists containing basis
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5
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Words for Cheese Writers
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If Malaysia was keen on returning to the calendar on a more permanent basis, there is no reason why F1 would not listen to them.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
This career move is going to give me space to put it behind me and not be reminded on a daily basis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Even at his $300 price target, SpaceX shares would trade at 0.6 times on a growth-adjusted basis.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
This will be supported by annual compound sales growth of 5% and a 400 to 600 basis point improvement in its margin, the company said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Goron couldn’t simply arrest him and measure him on the basis of an outlandish theory.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
Meanwhile, now that the bombers have left British soil, the US insists it can still deploy them from its domestic bases anywhere in the world.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Okinawa is home to several US military bases and tens of thousands of American troops.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The site has been expanded to include a sophisticated signals intelligence facility, which has prompted France and the US to consider moving their own bases in Djibouti to avoid Chinese intercepts, according to Kurlantzick.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
In recent months, Iran-allied factions have attacked the bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Jonathan remembered his despair after he struck out with the bases loaded.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
