proposition

[ prop-uh-zish-uh n ]

/ ˌprɒp əˈzɪʃ ən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR proposition ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

a plan or scheme proposed.

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

a thing, matter, or person considered as something to be dealt with or encountered: Keeping diplomatic channels open is a serious proposition.

anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.

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

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

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

a proposal of usually illicit sexual relations.

verb (used with object)

to propose sexual relations to.

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

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of proposition

1300–50; Middle English proposicio(u)n < Latin prōpositiōn- (stem of prōpositiō) a setting forth. See propositus, -ion

SYNONYMS FOR proposition

2 See proposal.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR proposition ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM proposition

prop·o·si·tion·al, adjectiveprop·o·si·tion·al·ly, adverbun·der·prop·o·si·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH proposition

preposition proposition (see usage note at preposition¹)

Words nearby proposition

proportionate, proportioned, proportionment, proposal, propose, proposition, propositional attitude, propositional calculus, propositional function, propositus, propound

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for proposition

It stands for the proposition that the biological basis of procreation should also be the sole organizing principle of society.
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An HIV scare, Rand Paul talking points, and a (maybe) proposition.
My Bizarre Night With James Deen, Libertarian Porn Star|Emily Shire|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The lack of love likely stems from DeMaio's silence on Proposition 8.
No Shaking Sexual Harassment Allegations for Gay GOP House Hopeful|Olivia Nuzzi|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the proposition had eventually broken apart in the churning, acidic stomach of Washington politics.
Lake Bacon: The Story of The Man Who Wanted Us to Eat Mississippi Hippos|Jon Mooallem|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I think the proposition is still debatable, or at least still in formation.
Hillary Clinton’s Golden Ticket: Paid Family Medical Leave|Michael Tomasky|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This last proviso, however, as we shall see, takes away almost all practical importance from the proposition.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4|Various
From no other source than the knowledge that this first proposition contains a clear conception of that which I affirm.
A History of Philosophy in Epitome|Albert Schwegler
It is unnecessary to say how welcome the proposition was to me.
Recollections Of My Childhood And Youth|George Brandes
Wherever there is a relative, there is a second proposition.
A Handbook of the English Language|Robert Gordon Latham
This proposition carried with it so much loneliness and isolation, that it was declined.
Memoirs of Orange Jacobs|Orange Jacobs

British Dictionary definitions for proposition

proposition

/ (ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən) /

noun

a proposal or topic presented for consideration

philosophy

the content of a sentence that affirms or denies something and is capable of being true or false
the meaning of such a sentence: I am warm always expresses the same proposition whoever the speaker isCompare statement (def. 8)

maths a statement or theorem, usually containing its proof

informal a person or matter to be dealt withhe's a difficult proposition

an invitation to engage in sexual intercourse

verb

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

Derived forms of proposition

propositional, adjectivepropositionally, adverb

Word Origin for proposition

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

proposition

noun

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Origin of proposition

SYNONYMS FOR proposition

OTHER WORDS FROM proposition

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH proposition

Words nearby proposition

Words related to proposition

Example sentences from the Web for proposition

British Dictionary definitions for proposition

noun

verb

Derived forms of proposition

Word Origin for proposition