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

• propositionally adverb
• propositional adjective
• 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

Video games ended up falling into the same category as toys and board games, all seen as properties that weren’t serious propositions for the screen.

From Los Angeles Times

Since 2010, the party has been victorious in more than 60% of the propositions it took a position on, according to data compiled by the state GOP.

From Los Angeles Times

They had been eating pizza in Epping town centre when they were propositioned by the defendant, who invited them back to The Bell Hotel.

From BBC

Wissa's instincts in the box as well as his fitness record and ability to plug in make him an attractive proposition for Newcastle, who only had one player hit double figures last season.

From BBC

David Beer from independent transport watchdog Transport Focus said the scheme was an "attractive proposition".

From BBC

Related Words

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