presumption
/prɪˈzʌm(p)ʃ(ə)n
/noun
1An idea that is taken to be true on the basis of probability: underlying presumptions about human nature...
- The notion of escape from the present is ubiquitous in these works, consistent with the presumption underlying the idea of Utopia as a place of retreat from the present world.
- We will have changed the presumption from the idea that the Internet is not regulated to one that it is regulated.
- Valerie is blinded by her presumptions to the true answers to any of these questions.
1.1 [mass noun] The acceptance of something as true although it is not known for certain: the presumption of innocence...
- In London a spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's office said family law cases in England and Wales were generally heard in camera, although there was no presumption that they had to be.
- My own personal presumption is innocence until proven guilty.
- The presumption that everyone in Brisbane follows the Broncos is nonsense… and the number of Bulldogs fans at Lang Park last Sunday surely confirm that.
1.2chiefly Law An attitude adopted in law or as a matter of policy towards an action or proposal in the absence of acceptable reasons to the contrary: the planning policy shows a general presumption in favour of development...
- Such a decision, especially today, requires extraordinarily strong reasons for overriding the presumption in favor of peace and against war.
- Even in regard to criminal statutes the presumption in favour of strict construction is nowadays rarely applied.
- There is, therefore, a presumption in favour of the appeal proposal under S54A unless other material considerations indicate otherwise.
Synonyms
assumption, supposition, presupposition, belief, thought, guess, expectation, judgement, surmise, conjecture, speculation, hypothesis, postulation, premise, generalization, inference, deduction, conclusion
2 [mass noun] Behaviour perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate: he lifted her off the ground, and she was enraged at his presumption...
- I can't convince people there is a God and I really have no desire to, except in moments of arrogant presumption that somehow my knowledge is better than that of others.
- Which will probably teach me something about arrogance and presumption.
- It is one thing to seek to excuse Machiavelli's cynicism and cruelty on the grounds that he was a man of his time - a victim as well as an architect of Renaissance arrogance and presumption.
Synonyms
brazenness, audacity, boldness, audaciousness, temerity, arrogance, egotism, front, presumptuousness, pertness, forwardness;
cockiness, shamelessness, insolence, impudence, bumptiousness, impertinence, effrontery, face, cheek, cheekiness, gall;
rudeness, incivility, impoliteness, disrespect, disrespectfulness, familiarity, freshness
informal nerve, neck, brass neck, chutzpah
North American informal sass, sassiness
archaic assumption
Origin
Middle English: from Old French presumpcion, from Latin praesumptio(n-) 'anticipation', from the verb praesumere (see presume).