Axiom
noun /ˈæksɪəm/ — A truth so basic it doesn't need proving.
Definition
A statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true; a foundation for reasoning.
Beyond the definition
Axioms are the load-bearing walls of thought systems. Every field — mathematics, ethics, physics — rests on axioms: things accepted as true in order to reason about everything else. The dangerous ones are the unexamined axioms we carry without knowing.
Origin & history
From Greek axioma — that which is thought worthy (axios 'worthy'). A worthy, self-evident truth.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The axiom that markets self-correct was accepted without question — until it wasn't.
Every philosophy rests on axioms you never chose; you simply inherited them.
In mathematics, axioms are the starting points; in life, they're often invisible.
Synonyms
postulate, principle, self-evident truth, premise, given
Antonyms
hypothesis, conjecture, assumption
Related words
Axiom vs tenet
An axiom is a starting point for logical reasoning or mathematics. A tenet is a specific belief or principle held by a group, such as a religion or political organization.
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Arranging wooden pieces into structure
An adult works at a table, methodically arranging wooden pieces into a clear, ordered, and stable structure.
The step-by-step, methodical formation of a stable structure represents a foundational truth—an accepted premise—upon which further reasoning can be built, showing how order forms the basis for truth.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration