premises

British  

/ ˈprɛmɪsɪz /

plural noun

1. a piece of land together with its buildings, esp considered as a place of business

2. law

   1. (in a deed, etc) the matters referred to previously; the aforesaid; the foregoing

   2. the introductory part of a grant, conveyance, etc

3. law (in the US) the part of a bill in equity that states the names of the parties, details of the plaintiff's claims, etc

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Explanation

The premises of a property consist of the land and buildings on it, usually of a business or organization. If there are no dogs allowed on the premises of a school, you'll have to leave your furry friend at home. A game of hide-and-go-seek where you can’t leave the house will go a lot faster than one that permits hiding anywhere on the premises, including outdoors. Premises has another, unrelated meaning — it can also be the assumption or hypothesis from which a conclusion is drawn. The English writer Samuel Butler said, “Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.” Meaning, much of life is about guesswork.

Example Sentences

In the meantime, visitors may not know: Wi Spa has an “Aescape” AI-powered massage robot on its premises.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

A lack of suitable premises is putting pressure on voluntary preschools to stay open, a nursery struggling to find a new home has said.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

The 12-acre parcel appears to have a converted barn on the premises, as well as stone walls, a stocked pond, and orchards.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Aberdeen City Council said it worked closely with Police Scotland, licensed premises, and other business partners.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

This, Mr. Byerley, is a court order authorizing me to search these premises for the presence of illegal...uh...mechanical men or robots of any description.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov