posit

[ poz-it ]

verb (used with object)

1. to place, put, or set.
2. to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate.

noun

1. something that is posited; an assumption; postulate.

posit

/ ˈpɒzɪt /

verb

1. to assume or put forward as fact or the factual basis for an argument; postulate
2. to put in position

noun

1. a fact, idea, etc, that is posited; assumption

Word History and Origins

Origin of posit¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin positus, past participle of pōnere “to place, put”

Word History and Origins

Origin of posit¹

C17: from Latin pōnere to place, position

Example Sentences

Tanton began working with the group Zero Population Growth, which posited that stabilizing the number of people on the planet was the best way to save the environment, and became its national president.

From Salon

“Fires may be growing faster due to warming trends, vegetation transitions to more flammable fuels, or the co-occurrence of high winds with increasing human-related ignitions,” the study posited.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2020 he posited building a fleet of 100 Starships every year for 10 years, parking them and their passengers in Earth orbit to await the next Earth-Mars near approach.

From Los Angeles Times

In late 2022, she made headlines after positing in an interview with RealLyfe Productions that the fallen music executive was behind the deaths of former Uptown Records figures.

From Los Angeles Times

Techno-geeks, on the other hand, could be prompted to think of Dead Internet Theory, which posits that the vast majority of public content on the web will soon be generated by bots instead of humans.

From Salon

Related Words

• hypothesize
• postulate
• presuppose