axiom
[ ak-see-uh m ]
/ ˈæk si əm /
noun
a self-evident truth that requires no proof.
a universally accepted principle or rule.
Logic, Mathematics.
a proposition that is assumed without proof for the sake of studying the consequences that follow from it.
Origin of axiom
1475–85; < Latin
axiōma < Greek: something worthy, equivalent to
axiō-, variant stem of
axioûn to reckon worthy +
-ma resultative noun suffix
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH axiom
adage aphorism apothegm axiom maxim proverb assumption axiom premise presumptionWords nearby axiom
Example sentences from the Web for axiom
British Dictionary definitions for axiom
axiom
/ (ˈæksɪəm) /
noun
a generally accepted proposition or principle, sanctioned by experience; maxim
a universally established principle or law that is not a necessary truth
the axioms of politics
a self-evident statement
logic maths
a statement or formula that is stipulated to be true for the purpose of a chain of reasoning: the foundation of a formal deductive system
Compare assumption (def. 4)
Word Origin for axiom
C15: from Latin
axiōma a principle, from Greek, from
axioun to consider worthy, from
axios worthy
Scientific definitions for axiom
axiom
[ ăk′sē-əm ]
A principle that is accepted as true without proof. The statement For every two points P and Q there is a unique line that contains both P and Q is an axiom because no other information is given about points or lines, and therefore it cannot be proven. Also called postulate
Cultural definitions for axiom
axiom
[ (ak-see-uhm) ]
In mathematics, a statement that is unproved but accepted as a basis for other statements, usually because it seems so obvious.
notes for axiom
The term
axiomatic is used generally to refer to a statement so obvious that it needs no proof.