Basic Details
Word: Proposition
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: An idea, plan or offer put forward for others to consider; in logic and mathematics, a statement that can be shown true or false.
Synonyms: proposal, suggestion, offer, statement
Word origin: From Latin propositio, a setting forth.
How to Spell Proposition
Syllables: prop - o - si - tion
Tricky part: Only one p sits in the middle, only one s follows it, and tion closes the word. Propersition and proposision are frequent slips.
Watch out for: proposision, propersition, propisition
Memory tip: Proposition is close to position: pro + position. You put your idea in position for others to judge.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Opening a tea stall near the railway station seemed like a good business proposition.
Example 2: The debate was about the proposition that homework should be banned.
Example 3: Climbing the hill in this heat is a tough proposition.
Fun Fact
Euclid's Elements, the ancient Greek geometry book, is arranged as numbered propositions, each proved step by step from earlier ones.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. reminiscance 2. proposition 3. conscientous 4. inevitible
a) a spoken or written memory of the past
b) careful to do one's work well and thoroughly
c) an idea or plan put forward for others to consider
d) certain to happen and impossible to avoid
Show answer
c) an idea or plan put forward for others to consider. Conscientious needs an i before ous, inevitable ends in able and reminiscence ends in ence, so proposition is the one.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
propposition
a) i
b) p
c) s
d) o
Show answer
b) p. Proposition grows out of propose, which has only one p in the middle.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Selling ice cream in the hills in winter was not a very attractive itnpoosoipr.
a) opposition
b) proposition
c) position
d) composition
Show answer
b) proposition. Opposition and position are too short for eleven letters, and composition needs a c and an m.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a plan is called a difficult proposition, it is ____.
a) hard to carry out
b) against the law
c) easy and quick to do
d) already finished
Show answer
a) hard to carry out
2. In a school debate, the proposition is ____.
a) the room where it is held
b) the statement being argued about
c) the prize for the winner
d) the time limit for speakers
Show answer
b) the statement being argued about
