proposition

[prop-uh-zish-uh n]

SEE MORE 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.

Origin of proposition

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

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

Can be confusedpreposition proposition (see usage note at preposition¹)

Synonyms for proposition

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR proposition ON THESAURUS.COM

2. See proposal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for proposition

recommendation, motion, hypothesis, premise, invitation, proposal, accost, project, overture, program, plan, proffer, presentation, propose, pose, prefer, ask, propound, solicit, suggest

Examples from the Web for proposition

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of proposition

And Mrs. Roberts smiled, and assented to the statement, but not to the proposition.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
Here is my proposition: You choose one of those girls and marry her.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
This proposition is one of keen interest in connection with aviation.
Flying Machines
W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
You say that the one proposition is an inference from the other.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
David Hume
This is the proposition which I intended to enforce in the present section.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
David Hume

British Dictionary definitions for proposition

proposition

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 Formspropositional, 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

Word Origin and History for proposition

mid-14c., "a setting forth as a topic for discussion," from Old French proposicion "proposal, submission, (philosophical) proposition" (12c.), from Latin propositionem (nominative propositio) "a setting forth, statement, a presentation, representation; fundamental assumption," noun of action from past participle stem of proponere (see propound). Meaning "action of proposing something to be done" is from late 14c. General sense of "matter, problem, undertaking" recorded by 1877. Related: Propositional.

1914, from proposition (n.); specifically of sexual favors from 1936. Related: Propositioned; propositioning.