Something accepted as true without proof or evidence, often serving as a starting point for reasoning or action. It represents beliefs or ideas taken for granted, which may be correct or incorrect but are not verified.
From Latin 'assumptio' meaning 'a taking up', derived from 'assumere' (to take up, adopt). The root combines 'ad-' (to, toward) and 'sumere' (to take). Originally meant physically taking something up, it evolved to mean mentally 'taking up' or accepting an idea without proof by the 14th century.
Assumptions are mental shortcuts that help us navigate the world quickly, but they're also the source of most misunderstandings and conflicts! Our brains make thousands of assumptions daily to process information efficiently - the trick is learning to recognize when we're assuming versus when we actually know something.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.