axiom
UK: ˈaksɪəm | US: ˈæksiəm
n. a self-evident or universally recognized truth
n. a statement or proposition accepted as true without proof
n. (Mathematics) a foundational principle used as the basis for reasoning
Derived from Greek axios (ἄξιος, "worthy") + the suffix -oma (abstract noun formation). The term entered Late Latin as axioma, meaning "a principle deemed worthy of acceptance." Over time, it evolved in English to denote self-evident truths, particularly in logic and mathematics, where axioms serve as unproven starting points for deductive systems. The morpheme axi preserves the original Greek notion of "worthiness," while om marks it as an abstract concept.
Euclid's axioms form the basis of classical geometry.
The belief in equal rights is often treated as a moral axiom.
In physics, Newton's laws were once considered axioms.
The philosopher challenged the cultural axioms of his time.
Mathematical proofs rely on axioms to avoid circular reasoning.