posit

verb

pos·​it ˈpä-zət How to pronounce posit (audio)
posited ˈpä-zə-təd How to pronounce posit (audio)
ˈpäz-təd
; positing ˈpä-zə-tiŋ How to pronounce posit (audio)
ˈpäz-tiŋ

transitive verb

1
: to dispose or set firmly : fix
2
: to assume or affirm the existence of : postulate
3
: to propose as an explanation : suggest

Examples of posit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Some of the more in-depth survey courses back then even posited that these walls of protection were proximate causes of the whole collapse of trade leading to a clueless President Herbert Hoover’s inability to avert the worst downtown in our nation’s history. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024 That six-episode series posited a theory about the people who are fueling the dangerous and delusional theories peddled under the moniker of QAnon. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024 Experts had long posited that the two lions were brothers—and the latest round of research confirmed that theory using mitochondrial DNA. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024 The 80/20 Principle—also known as the Pareto Principle—posits that a small number of key behaviors, interactions or emotional investments are responsible for the majority of our happiness and fulfillment. Mark Travers, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for posit 

Word History

Etymology

Latin positus, past participle of ponere

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of posit was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near posit

Cite this Entry

“Posit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posit. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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