Meaning & use
postulate
Last updated
To suggest or assume something as a basic fact or starting point for reasoning, without proof.
See it in a sentence
Scientists postulated the existence of a new particle before it was ever observed.
The theory postulates that memory and emotion are closely linked in the brain.
A note on using this word
Common in scientific and philosophical writing to describe an assumption taken as a starting point rather than a proven conclusion.
Words with a similar meaning
assumehypothesize
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
proveverify
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