Meanings
postulate1
plural postulates
- Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument. Sometimes distinguished from axioms as being relevant to a particular science or context, rather than universally true, and following from other axioms rather than being an absolute assumption.
- A fundamental element; a basic principle.
- human sciencesAn axiom.
- A requirement; a prerequisite.
postulate2
present singular third person postulates · participle present postulating · participle past postulated · past postulated
- To assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.
1883, Benedictus de Spinoza, translated by R. H. M. Elwes, Ethics, Part 3, Prop. XXII, But this pleasure or pain is postulated to come to us accompanied by the idea of an external cause; […]
1 more example
[T]he attempt to arrive at a physical explanation of existence led the Ionian thinkers to postulate various primal elements or simply the infinite τὸ ἀπειρον.
1911, Infinite, Encyclopædia Britannica - ambitransitivehistoricalChristianityTo appoint or request one's appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
[A]lthough Douglas was postulated to it [the Abbacy of Arbroath], and signed letters and papers under this designation his nomination […] was never completed.
1874, John Small, editor, The Poetical Works of Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, volume 1, page xvi
postulate3
- alternativeobsoleteAlternative form of postulated, past participle of postulate.
Quoth he, What Nature can afford, I shall produce upon my word ; And if she ever gave that boon To man, I'll prove that I have one ; I mean, by postulate Illation, When you shall offer just occasion ;[…]
1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 124
Synonyms & antonyms
noun(logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning
verbrequire as useful, just, or proper
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
postulate · noun
- Latinposcō?
- Latinpostulō
- Latinpostulātus
- Latinpostulātum
- Englishpostulate
Borrowed from Latin postulātum, a neuter nominalization of postulātus, perfect passive participle of postulō, possibly from poscō. See -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more. Cognate with French postulat.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →postulate · verb
- Latinpostulātus
- Englishpostulate
From Latin postulātus, perfect passive participle of postulō (“to request”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more. Cognate with French postuler.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →postulate · verb
- Latinpostulātus
- Englishpostulate
From Latin postulātus, perfect passive participle of postulō (“to request”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مُسَلَّم
- مُسَلَّم (musallam)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Bulgarian постула́т, постула́т
- постула́т (postulát)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- постула́т (postulát)fundamental element; basic principle
- предпоста́вка (predpostávka)requirement, prerequisite
- приемам (priemam)to assume as a premise
- предполагам (predpolagam)to assume as a premise
- изисквам (iziskvam)to demand or claim
Catalan postulat, postulat
- postulatsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postulatfundamental element; basic principle
- postulatlogic: an axiom
Chinese Mandarin 公設 /公设
- 公設 /公设 (gōngshè)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Czech postulát
- postulátsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Danish postulat, påstand
- postulatsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- påstandsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Dutch postulaat
- postulaatlogic: an axiom
Esperanto postulato
- postulatologic: an axiom
Finnish oletus, periaate
- oletussomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- periaatefundamental element; basic principle
- perusosafundamental element; basic principle
- oletuslogic: an axiom
- edellytysrequirement, prerequisite
- postuloidato assume as a premise
French postulat, postulat
- postulatsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postulatfundamental element; basic principle
- postulatlogic: an axiom
- postulerto assume as a premise
- postulerto appoint to an ecclesiastic position
- postulerto demand or claim
German Postulat, Postulat
- Postulatsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- Postulatfundamental element; basic principle
- Postulatlogic: an axiom
- Axiomlogic: an axiom
- Voraussetzungrequirement, prerequisite
- postulierento assume as a premise
Greek αξίωμα, αξίωμα
- αξίωμα (axíoma)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- αξίωμα (axíoma)logic: an axiom
- προϋπόθεση (proÿpóthesi)requirement, prerequisite
- αποφαίνομαι (apofaínomai)to assume as a premise
- αξιώνω (axióno)to demand or claim
- απαιτώ (apaitó)to demand or claim
Irish foshuíomh
- foshuíomhsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Italian postulato, postulato
- postulatosomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postulatofundamental element; basic principle
- postulatologic: an axiom
- postulareto assume as a premise
- presupporreto assume as a premise
- esprimereto assume as a premise
- postulareto appoint to an ecclesiastic position
Japanese 公準
- 公準 (kōjun)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Korean 공준
- 공준 (gongjun)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Latin postulō
- postulōto demand or claim
Norwegian postulere, forutsette
- postulereto assume as a premise
- forutsetteto assume as a premise
Norwegian Bokmål postulat, postulat
- postulatsomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postulatfundamental element; basic principle
Portuguese postulado, postulado
- postuladosomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postuladofundamental element; basic principle
- postuladologic: an axiom
- axiomalogic: an axiom
- postularto assume as a premise
- postularto demand or claim
Russian постула́т, постула́т
- постула́т (postulát)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- постула́т (postulát)fundamental element; basic principle
- постула́т (postulát)logic: an axiom
- постула́т (postulát)requirement, prerequisite
Spanish postulado, postulado
- postuladosomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- postuladofundamental element; basic principle
- postularto assume as a premise
Swedish postulat, axiom
- postulatlogic: an axiom
- axiomlogic: an axiom
- förutsättningrequirement, prerequisite
- postulerato assume as a premise
Tagalog batayang palagay
- batayang palagaysomething assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
Ukrainian постула́т, постула́т
- постула́т (postulát)something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted
- постула́т (postulát)fundamental element; basic principle
- постула́т (postulát)logic: an axiom
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
postulate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postulate
“postulate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postulate. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “postulate,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postulate.
Source: postulate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.