proposition

[ prop-uh-zish-uhn ]

/ ˌprɒp əˈzɪʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: proposition / propositions 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.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of proposition

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

synonym study for proposition

2. See proposal.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use proposition in a sentence

Still, attempting to scale these kinds of advanced — and pricey — technologies is a difficult proposition and requires owners with patience and deep pockets.
Hyundai reportedly in talks to buy SoftBank-owned Boston Dynamics|Brian Heater|November 9, 2020|TechCrunch
Residents now have a real system by which they can hold the department accountable for allegations of misconduct, which was previously a scattershot proposition.
Politics Report: Winners and Losers Special Edition|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|November 7, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Meanwhile, the proposition is very much backed by the powerful SEIU-UHW health care labor union, which two years ago proposed a separate California ballot initiative targeting dialysis clinics that was heavily defeated.
The state ballot measures the business community should watch in the 2020 election|reymashayekhi|October 28, 2020|Fortune
This was a particularly tough proposition, as the pandemic had shut down traditional productions.
CNN, Tastemade and ForwardPMX are Digiday Marketing and Advertising Awards Europe shortlisters|Digiday Awards|October 27, 2020|Digiday

Until you get a different animal, a third party, it’s not a winning proposition either way.
Undecided, With Just a Week to Go|Nick Fouriezos|October 27, 2020|Ozy
"I got propositioned by a photographer...a male," Cooper, who began modeling at age ten, told the radio personality.
Anderson Cooper Was Propositioned by a Photographer as a Child Model|Marina Watts|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is being awkwardly propositioned in an elevator by an Aspergers-afflicted scientist a first world complaint?
In Defense of First World Problems|Michael Moynihan|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She briefly described the exchange in a later podcast without revealing the identity of the man who propositioned her.
The Masculine Mystique|R. Tod Kelly|October 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For me, it was the professor who I thought admired my writing until he propositioned me.
Cain Accuser's Story Rings True|Michelle Goldberg|November 8, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I don't think you were out of your head at all when you propositioned those two guys.
A Woman's Place|Mark Irvin Clifton
And it ties in so beautifully with his making no response, yes or no, when she propositioned him.
The Galaxy Primes|Edward Elmer Smith

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

Origin of proposition

synonym study for proposition

OTHER WORDS FROM proposition

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH proposition

Words related to proposition

How to use proposition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for proposition

Derived forms of proposition

Word Origin for proposition