An axiom is a statement or idea which people accept as being true.
[formal]
...the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income.
Synonyms: principle, fundamental, maxim, gnome More Synonyms of axiom
axiom in British English
(ˈæksɪəm)
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
axiom in American English
(ˈæksiəm)
noun
1.
a statement universally accepted as true; maxim
2.
an established principle or law of a science, art, etc.
3. Logic and Ancient Mathematics
a statement or proposition that needs no proof because its truth is obvious, or one that is accepted as true without proof
Euclid's axiom that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other
Word origin
Fr axiome < L axioma < Gr axiōma, authority, authoritative sentence < axioun, to think worthy < axios, worthy < base of agein, to weigh, orig., to lend: see act1
Examples of 'axiom' in a sentence
axiom
up-country axiom: `If it ain't broke, don't fix it "might well apply here.
MacLeod, Charlotte SOMETHING IN THE WATER
(noun)
Definition
a generally accepted principle
the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income
Synonyms
principle
a violation of the basic principles of Marxism
fundamental
maxim
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
gnome
adage
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
postulate
dictum
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong
precept
the precept, `If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well'
aphorism
one of his favoured aphorisms
truism
the truism that nothing succeeds like success
apophthegm
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adage
Definition
a traditional saying that is generally accepted as being true
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
maxim,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
by-word,
saw (old-fashioned),
axiom,
aphorism,
apophthegm (rare)
in the sense of aphorism
Definition
a short clever saying expressing a general truth
one of his favoured aphorisms
Synonyms
saying,
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
axiom,
apothegm,
saw
in the sense of dictum
Definition
a popular saying or maxim
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong