Postulate
noun /ˈpɒstʃʊleɪt/ — A foundational assumption you begin with — before the argument can start.
Definition
A thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief; a fundamental principle accepted without proof as the starting point for an argument.
Beyond the definition
Every argument has postulates lurking behind it — things both sides have silently agreed to accept before any argument begins. Making postulates visible is one of the most clarifying acts in intellectual discourse.
Origin & history
From Latin postulare — to demand, to require (the root idea: a claim laid down in advance). What is demanded before argument can proceed. The intellectual price of admission.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Euclid's geometry rests on five postulates — unprovable starting points that make everything else derivable.
The argument was compelling, but she noticed they'd postulated something she wasn't prepared to concede.
To postulate is to say: I won't argue this — I'll build from it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Postulate” when the meaning fits your context: A thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief; a fundamental principle accepted without proof as the starting point for an argument.
Synonyms
axiom, premise, assumption, hypothesis, given
Antonyms
conclusion, proof, theorem
Related words
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
Ordering wooden pieces systematically
An adult arranges complex, interlocking wooden pieces into a clear, ordered structure on a large table.
The act of creating a structured foundation from individual pieces serves as a conceptual analogy for establishing a premise used as a starting point for complex reasoning.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Postulate" mean?
Postulate is noun meaning: A foundational assumption you begin with — before the argument can start.. A thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief; a fundamental principle accepted without proof as the starting point for an argument.
Where does the word "Postulate" come from?
From Latin postulare — to demand, to require (the root idea: a claim laid down in advance). What is demanded before argument can proceed. The intellectual price of admission.