1
: a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference : postulate sense 1
one of the axioms of the theory of evolution
2
: an established rule or principle or a self-evident truth
cites the axiom "no one gives what he does not have"
3
: a maxim widely accepted on its intrinsic merit
the axioms of wisdom
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In mathematics or logic, an axiom is an unprovable rule or first principle accepted as true because it is self-evident or particularly useful. “Nothing can both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect” is an example of an axiom. The term is often used interchangeably with postulate, though the latter term is sometimes reserved for mathematical applications (such as the postulates of Euclidean geometry). It should be contrasted with a theorem, which requires a rigorous proof.
Examples of axiom in a Sentence
one of the key axioms of the theory of evolution
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s become a political axiom of sorts that policies championed largely by Democratic city leaders over the past half decade have resulted in rising crime levels.
—
Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Donald Trump and his gleeful chainsaw-wielding quasi-cabinet department leader Elon Musk should be made aware that the same axiom applies to geopolitics.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
Diving Into The Rent-Free Zone The notion of being rent-free is an ambiguous construction in this popular axiom.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
There’s an old axiom in physics, which states that nature abhors a vacuum.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
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Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Donald Trump and his gleeful chainsaw-wielding quasi-cabinet department leader Elon Musk should be made aware that the same axiom applies to geopolitics.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
Diving Into The Rent-Free Zone The notion of being rent-free is an ambiguous construction in this popular axiom.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
There’s an old axiom in physics, which states that nature abhors a vacuum.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for axiom
Cite this Entry
“Axiom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axiom. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
axiom
noun
ax·i·om
ˈak-sē-əm 
: a rule or principle widely accepted as obviously true and not needing to be proved
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