Word forms: plural postulates, 3rd person singular presenttense postulates, present participle postulating, past tense, past participle postulatedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (pɒstʃʊleɪt). The noun is pronounced (pɒstʃʊlət).
1. verb
If you postulate something, you suggest it as the basis for a theory, argument, or calculation, or assume that it is the basis.
[formal]
...arguments postulating differing standards for human rights in different cultures. [VERB noun]
Freud postulated that we all have a death instinct as well as a life instinct. [VERB that]
Synonyms: presuppose, suppose, advance, propose More Synonyms of postulate
2. countable noun [oft NOUNof noun, NOUN that]
A postulate is an idea that is suggested as or assumed to be the basis for a theory, argument, or calculation.
[formal]
Offe also challenges the postulate of an 'organized capitalism'.
postulate in British English
verb (ˈpɒstjʊˌleɪt)(tr; may take a clause as object)
1.
to assume to be true or existent; take for granted
2.
to ask, demand, or claim
3.
to nominate (a person) to a post or office subject to approval by a higher authority
noun (ˈpɒstjʊlɪt)
4.
something taken as self-evident or assumed as the basis of an argument
5.
a necessary condition or prerequisite
6.
a fundamental principle
7. logic, mathematics
an unproved and indemonstrable statement that should be taken for granted: used as an initial premise or underlying hypothesis in a process of reasoning
Derived forms
postulation (ˌpostuˈlation)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin postulāre to ask for, require; related to pōscere to request
postulate in American English
(ˈpɑstʃəˌleɪt; for n., usually, ˈpɑstʃəlɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈpostuˌlated or ˈpostuˌlating
1.
to claim; demand; require
2.
to assume without proof to be true, real, or necessary, esp. as a basis for argument
3.
to take as self-evident; assume
noun
4.
something postulated; assumption or axiom
5.
a prerequisite
6.
a basic principle
SIMILAR WORDS: preˈsume
Derived forms
postulation (ˌpostuˈlation)
noun
Word origin
< L postulatus, pp. of postulare, to demand < base of poscere, to demand < IE *pṛskā, question < base *per-, to ask > Ger frage, question
Examples of 'postulate' in a sentence
postulate
`Some of your eschatologists postulate form fields or super genes.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
In other languages
postulate
British English: postulate VERB
If you postulate something, you suggest it as the basis for a theory, argument, or calculation, or assume that it is the basis.
...arguments postulating differing approaches in different cultures.
American English: postulate
Brazilian Portuguese: postular
Chinese: 假定
European Spanish: postular
French: postuler
German: postulieren
Italian: postulare
Japanese: 仮定する
Korean: 가정하다
European Portuguese: postular
Latin American Spanish: postular
(verb)
Definition
to assume to be true as the basis of an argument or theory
(formal)
Freud postulated that we all have a death instinct.
Synonyms
presuppose
All your arguments presuppose that he is a rational man.
suppose
The problem was more complex than he supposed.
advance
Many theories have been advanced as to why this is.
propose
We are about to propose some changes to the system.
assume
It is a mistake to assume that the two are similar.
put forward
take for granted
predicate
theorize
We can theorize about their minds by watching them behave.
posit
Several writers have posited the idea of a universal consciousness.
hypothesize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advance
Definition
to present an idea for consideration
Many theories have been advanced as to why this is.
Synonyms
suggest,
offer,
present,
propose,
allege,
cite,
advocate,
submit,
prescribe,
put forward,
proffer,
adduce,
offer as a suggestion
in the sense of assume
Definition
to take to be true without proof
It is a mistake to assume that the two are similar.
Synonyms
presume,
think,
believe,
expect,
accept,
suppose,
imagine,
suspect,
guess (informal),
take it,
fancy,
take for granted,
infer,
conjecture,
postulate (formal),
surmise,
presuppose
in the sense of posit
Definition
to lay down as a basis for argument
Several writers have posited the idea of a universal consciousness.
Synonyms
put forward,
advance,
submit,
state,
assume,
assert,
presume,
predicate,
postulate (formal),
propound
Nearby words of
postulate
postpone
postponement
postscript
postulate
posture
posy
pot
Synonyms of 'postulate'
postulate
Explore 'postulate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of propose
Definition
to put forward (a plan) for consideration
We are about to propose some changes to the system.
Synonyms
put forward,
present,
suggest,
advance,
come up with,
submit,
tender,
proffer,
propound
in the sense of suppose
Definition
to presume (something) to be true without certain knowledge
The problem was more complex than he supposed.
Synonyms
think,
imagine,
expect,
judge,
assume,
guess (informal),
calculate (US, dialect),
presume,
take for granted,
infer,
conjecture,
surmise,
dare say,
opine (formal),
presuppose,
take as read
in the sense of theorize
Definition
to produce or use theories
We can theorize about their minds by watching them behave.