Proposition

Definition

Proposition generally refers to a statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion, or a suggested scheme or plan of action, especially in a business context.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
• Respelling: PRAH-puh-ZIH-shuhn (with "PRAH" as in "prawn," "puh" as in "put," "ZIH" as in "zigzag," and "shuhn" as in "mission")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən/
• Respelling: PROP-uh-ZIH-shuhn (with "PROP" as in "prop," "uh" as in "put," "ZIH" as in "zigzag," and "shuhn" as in "mission")

In both dialects, "proposition" is pronounced with the stress on the third syllable, "ZIH." The pronunciation remains consistent across both American and British English, clearly emphasizing the "ZIH" part.

Etymology

The word "proposition" is derived from the Latin word "propositio", which means "a setting forth, statement". It comes from "proponere", where "pro-" means "forward" and "ponere" means "to put".

Derivatives

• Propositional
• Propose
• Proposer
• Proposed
• Proposing

Synonyms

• Proposal
• Suggestion
• Offer

Antonyms

• Rejection
• Disapproval
• Refusal

Usage

"Proposition" can refer to both a formal suggestion or plan as well as a statement in logic or mathematics that can be either true or false.

Related Terms

• Propositional logic
• Propositional calculus
• Business proposition

Detailed Definition

Noun

• A statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion.
• Example: The proposition that high cholesterol is a primary cause of heart disease is widely accepted.

• A suggested scheme or plan of action, especially in a business context.
• Example: He presented a proposition for a new marketing strategy to the board.

• In logic and mathematics, a statement that is either true or false, but not both.
• Example: In Euclidean geometry, the proposition that the angles of a triangle sum to 180 degrees is fundamental.