presupposition

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

Also spelled pre-supposition

US /ˌpriːsəpəˈzɪʃən/ UK /pɹiː.sʌ.pəˈzɪ.ʃ(ə)n/ See IPA manual

Freq #279549

Meanings

1

noun
Something that is assumed to be true without being stated directly.

The whole argument rests on the presupposition that people act rationally.
2

noun
An assumption made in advance, before there is any proof.

He approached the case without any presuppositions about who was guilty.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

assumption conjecture

Word family

Forms presuppositions

Derived forms presuppositionalpresuppositionless

Etymology

From Middle French présupposition, from Latin praesuppositio, from the past participle stem of praesuppōnere (“to presuppose”).

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# presupposition

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌpriːsəpəˈzɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹiː.sʌ.pəˈzɪ.ʃ(ə)n/
**Frequency rank:** 279549

## Meanings
1. Something that is assumed to be true without being stated directly.
2. An assumption made in advance, before there is any proof.

## Examples
- The whole argument rests on the presupposition that people act rationally.
- He approached the case without any presuppositions about who was guilty.

## Synonyms
- assumption
- conjecture

## Derived Forms
- presuppositional
- presuppositionless

## Etymology
From Middle French présupposition, from Latin praesuppositio, from the past participle stem of praesuppōnere (“to presuppose”).

## AI Etymology
Presupposition is from Middle French présupposition, from Latin praesuppositio, from the past participle stem of praesuppōnere (“to presuppose”). Current senses include something that is assumed to be true without being stated directly and an assumption made in advance, before there is any proof. The wider family includes derived forms such as presuppositional and presuppositionless.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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