basis
Americannoun
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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
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 granted, consent from council planners would allow the site, which is popular with tourists, to be used on a permanent basis.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
It has met that goal on an annualized basis since 2020, according to its website, by partnering with renewable energy providers on long-term power purchase agreements.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
Operating ratio, which measures the railroad’s efficiency, came to 62.5%, an increase of 80 basis points, and adjusted operating ratio of 62.2%, an increase of 50 basis points.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
On X, the FDA stated, “To clarify, this false positive lab sample does not change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
But consonance and dissonance do also have a strong physical basis in nature.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
He also had 560 doubles, 1,518 RBIs and 94 stolen bases while posting a career .290 batting average over 17 seasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Squadrons of jet fighters have been staged across the Middle East, and bomber aircraft at bases in the U.S. and U.K. are on high alert to ramp up operations, according to one of the officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Fury, who bases his training camps in Thailand, appeared relaxed and in good spirits.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The tide really began to turn later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Then I’m Glenn Burke hitting his home run and silly-dancing around the bases.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
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.
