proposition

[prop-uh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted, adopted, or done.

2. a plan or scheme proposed.

3. an offer of terms for a transaction, as in business.

4. a thing, matter, or person considered as something to be dealt with or encountered.

   Keeping diplomatic channels open is a serious proposition.

5. anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.

6. Rhetoric.,  a statement of the subject of an argument or a discourse, or of the course of action or essential idea to be advocated.

7. Logic.,  a statement in which something is affirmed or denied, so that it can therefore be significantly characterized as either true or false.

8. Mathematics.,  a formal statement of either a truth to be demonstrated or an operation to be performed; a theorem or a problem.

9. a proposal of usually illicit sexual relations.

verb (used with object)

1. to propose sexual relations to.

2. to propose a plan, deal, etc., to.

proposition

/ ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a proposal or topic presented for consideration

2. philosophy

   1. the content of a sentence that affirms or denies something and is capable of being true or false

   2. the meaning of such a sentence: I am warm always expresses the same proposition whoever the speaker is Compare statement

3. maths a statement or theorem, usually containing its proof

4. informal,  a person or matter to be dealt with

   he's a difficult proposition

5. an invitation to engage in sexual intercourse

verb

1. (tr) to propose a plan, deal, etc, to, esp to engage in sexual intercourse

Other Word Forms

• propositional adjective
• propositionally adverb
• underproposition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of proposition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English proposicio(u)n, from Latin prōpositiōn- (stem of prōpositiō ) “a setting forth.” See propositus, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of proposition¹

C14 proposicioun, from Latin prōpositiō a setting forth; see _propose

Synonym Study

See proposal.

Example Sentences

That convenience factor strikes at the heart of Carvana’s business proposition.

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“With our clear strategic focus, our revised risk appetite framework, and overall strengthened risk function and processes, we are now entirely aligned around our core wealth management proposition,” Chief Executive Stefan Bollinger said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"I think it was a very tempting proposition, I'd just been born and I'm sure my dad thought it was the responsible thing to do."

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"This peace plan includes propositions on which the Russians and the Americans have already held preliminary discussions," Orban said.

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The big-box retailer added that "customer value proposition with everyday low prices and increased convenience is resonating."

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Related Words

• hypothesis 
• invitation 
• motion 
• premise 
• proposal 
• recommendation