English Dictionary

Definition of “axiom”

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axiom (ˈæksɪəmPronunciation for axiom) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a generally accepted proposition or principle, sanctioned by experience; maxim
  2. a universally established principle or law that is not a necessary truth  ⇒ the axioms of politics 
  3. a self-evident statement
  4. logic mathematics 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 (sense 4)

Word Origin

C15: from Latin axiōma  a principle, from Greek, from axioun  to consider worthy, from axios worthy

Usage examples

  • It was another Peyton axiom that to be reasonably secret there was nothing like a low-voiced discussion out of doors.
    Asimov, Isaac, The Complete Stories Volume 2 (1995)
  • Positioning Perspectives Remember the product-usage axiom : it isn't what she uses that is important.
    Business Today (1999)
  • Yessir, the North American International Auto Show was a celebration of that old Detroit axiom : bigger is better.
    Toronto Sun (2003)
  • He said America could be a leading world power and his foreign policy axiom was...'Speak softly and carry a big stick.
    Sun, News of the World (2002)
  • The last sentence of that passage could have been the axiom by which she lived her own life.
    Paul Preston, DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'A'

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