proposition

 
Pronunciation: /prɒpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

  • 1a statement or assertion that expresses a judgement or opinion: the proposition that high taxation is undesirable
  • Logic a statement that expresses a concept that can be true or false.
  • Mathematics a formal statement of a theorem or problem, typically including the demonstration.
  • 2a suggested scheme or plan of action, especially in a business context: a detailed investment proposition
  • US a constitutional proposal; a bill: Californian voters rejected by a two-to-one majority proposition 128
  • informal an offer of sexual intercourse made to a person with whom one is not involved, especially one that is made in an unsubtle way: needless to say, she refused his frank sexual proposition
  • 3 [with adjective] a project, task, idea, etc. considered in terms of its likely success or difficulty: setting up your own business can seem an attractive proposition

verb

[with object] informal
  • make a suggestion of sexual intercourse to (someone), especially in an unsubtle way: she had been propositioned at the party by a subeditor with bad breath
  • make an offer or suggestion to: I was propositioned by the editor about becoming film critic of the paper

Phrases

not a proposition

unlikely to succeed; not a viable option.

Derivatives

propositional

adjective (chiefly Logic)

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, from Latin propositio(n-), from the verb proponere (see propound)