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proposition Definition

propo·si·tion (präp′ə zis̸h′ən)

noun

  1. the act of proposing
    1. something proposed; proposal, plan
    2. ☆ Informal an unethical or immoral proposal, specif. one of illicit sexual relations in return for some gain
  3. a subject or statement to be discussed or debated
  4. ☆ Informal a proposed deal, as in business
  5. ☆ Informal a person, problem, undertaking, etc. being or to be dealt with
  6. Archaic a setting forth; offering
  7. Logic an informative statement whose truth or falsity can be evaluated by means of logic
  8. Math. a theorem to be demonstrated or a problem to be solved

Etymology: ME proposicioun < OFr proposition < L propositio < proponere: see propose

transitive verb

to make a proposition, esp. an improper one, to

proposition Related Forms
prop′o·si′·tional adjective
proposition Synonyms

proposition

n.

  1. A proposal

    proposal, scheme, project, suggestion; see plan 2, proposal 1, 2, suggestion 1.

  2. A statement set forth

    premise, thesis, theorem, position, resolution, statement; see also declaration 1, 2, doctrine 1, hypothesis. See syn. study at proposal.

proposition Synonyms

proposition

v.

  1. To propose

    offer, recommend, suggest; see propose 1.

  2. To make sexual advances

    make overtures, make an indecent proposal, make a pass; see solicit 3.

proposition Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • assert: When the speakers make a practice of asserting the proposition under these conditions, they become the proposition's truth conditions.
  • accept: However, I do not accept the general proposition, which the hon.
  • believe: We cannot believe a proposition which we know to be untrue.
  • express: Other writers hold that ( successful ) declarative sentences express propositions; and formulas of formal languages somehow display the forms of these propositions.
  • seem: Why Bedford was not chosen is not stated, but it seems an attractive proposition, especially if it is also free!
  • prove: The CALA Finance funding option continues to prove highly attractive proposition for ' growing the business ' " .

Adjective modifier

  • viable: Provided the resource is there, community hydro projects can also be a viable proposition.
  • attractive: For some, setting up a home office or working from home is an attractive proposition.
  • compelling: Short lead times for delivery and flexible contract terms drive a compelling proposition within key market sectors, such as retail.
  • risky: A business that has a well-rounded and established management team is a less risky proposition to a purchaser.
  • existential: Those that wouldn't would certainly be negative propositions and possibly existential propositions.
  • realistic: Are spinouts a realistic proposition for the plant sciences in today's environment?

Modifies a noun

  • bet: Proposition bets - 21/08/06 I have entered into a significant proposition bet with a friend.
  • cannot: However, the truth of a proposition cannot be derived from its popularity.

Noun used with modifier

  • win-win: For both gas sufferers and those near and dear to them, this passive control device offers a win-win proposition.
  • selling: Come up with a unique selling proposition that compels people to link to your site.
  • franchise: Proposal: Preparatory work on the franchise proposition is under way to facilitate the franchising process.
  • brand: The ' brand proposition ' was for a more natural product for the target market of ' chefs who aim to please ' .
  • value: Deliver value propositions to your client based on the knowledge gained.
  • business: We treat our clients well, working with them for the long term to get better results for their business proposition online.
proposition Quotes

Where God's presence is no longer a tenable proposition and where his absence is no longer a felt, indeed overwhelming weight, certain dimensions of thought and creativity are no longer attainable.

—Steiner, George

Four score and sevenyears ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal†we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. 510

—Lincoln, Abraham

Doubt everything at least once, even the proposition that two times two equals four.

—Lichtenberg, Georg Christoph

The criterion which we use to test the genuineness of apparent statements of fact is the criterion of verifiability.We say that a sentence isfactually significant to any given person, if, and only if, he knows how to 44 verify the proposition which it purports to express ö that is, if he knows what observations would lead him, under certain conditions, to accept the proposition as being true, or reject it as being false.

—Ayer, SirAlfred Jules

Every proposition which we can understand must be composed wholly of constituents with which we are acquainted.

—Russell, Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl

Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it Macaulay down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till theyare fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story, who resolved not to go into the water till he had learnt to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait for ever.

—1st Baron

It is perfectly true, as philosophers say, that life must be understood backwards.But they forget the other proposition, that it must be lived forwards. And if one thinks over that proposition it becomes more and more evident that life can never really be understood in time simply because at no particular moment can I find the necessary resting-place from which to understand itöbackwards.

—Kierkegaard, So«  ren Aabye