axiom
axiom Lexical Profile
axiom Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
"The old axiom that honesty is the best policy still guides the company's ethical standards."
In mathematics and logic, a starting premise or postulate assumed to be true without proof as a basis for further reasoning and theorems.
"Euclidean geometry is constructed upon a small set of foundational axioms."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday usage, 'axiom' refers to a widely accepted, self-evident truth, whereas in formal logic and mathematics, it is a foundational premise accepted without proof to build a theoretical system.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century via Latin from Ancient Greek 'axíōma' ('that which is thought worthy or fit', or 'that which commends itself as evident'), derived from 'áxios' ('worthy').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.