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

Derived Forms

• ˌpropoˈsitionally, adverb
• ˌpropoˈsitional, adjective

Other Words From

• propo·sition·al adjective
• propo·sition·al·ly adverb
• under·propo·sition 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

In Arizona, voters passed Proposition 139 amending the state constitution to provide a fundamental right to abortion.

From Salon

That was the thrilling proposition.

From Los Angeles Times

Molina fought hard against the proposition, which was eventually stayed by the courts.

From Los Angeles Times

Molina, then a member of the county Board of Supervisors, requested the repatriation records during her fight against Proposition 187 in the 1990s.

From Los Angeles Times

The proponents of the proposition appealed, but the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that they did not represent the state and had no standing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accost