presupposition

American  

[pree-suhp-uh-zish-uhn] / ˌpri sʌp əˈzɪʃ ən /

noun

1. something that is assumed in advance or taken for granted.

   The conflict could have been avoided if the speakers had openly acknowledged the presuppositions that each of them brought to the discussion.

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Other Word Forms

• presuppositionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of presupposition

First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin presupposition-, stem of presuppositio, equivalent to Latin praesupposit(us) (past participle of praesupponere ) + -iō -ion ( def. ); presuppose ( def. )

Example Sentences

I believe the contrary: most leopard-human conflict originates with the presupposition of conflict.

From Scientific American • Apr. 22, 2023

This is a presupposition, but it isn’t a crazy one.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2022

“It indicates a presupposition or premise that somehow Solomon Islands’ foreign policy is Australia’s responsibility.”

From Washington Post • May 26, 2022

Ament said a lot of her students have come in with the presupposition that “there was an absolutely right way to do things.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2021

For, as the presupposition of capitalism is combination in large operations, there is involved in this also the accumulation of masses of men in cities and centres of industry.

From Socialism and the Social Movement in the 19th Century by Sombart, Werner