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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

axiom

/ˈæk.si.əm/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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AK-see-um: the x sounds like ks.

The first vowel is the short a of “cat.” Keep the ee and the following light uh connected while leaving the stress on AK.

TRY SAYING
The proof begins with a familiar axiom.

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

What does axiom mean?

noun

  1. A seemingly self-evident or necessary truth which is based on assumption; a principle or proposition which cannot actually be proved or disproved.
  2. A fundamental assumption that serves as a basis for deduction of theorems; a postulate (sometimes distinguished from postulates as being universally applicable, whereas postulates are particular to a certain science or context).
  3. An established principle in some artistic practice or science that is universally received.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈæk.si.əm/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

I believe it to be infinitely the truer axiom of the two that innocence can look like guilt.
Wilkie CollinsThe MoonstoneProject Gutenberg ebook #155
It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
active 6th century B.C. SunziThe Art of WarTranslated by Lionel GilesProject Gutenberg ebook #132
More book examples (3)
Volleying is a science based on the old geometric axiom that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
William T. (William Tatem) TildenThe Art of Lawn TennisProject Gutenberg ebook #1451
To those that contend upon presupposition we must, on the contrary, presuppose to them the same axiom upon which the dispute is.
Michel de MontaigneEssays of Michel de Montaigne — CompleteTranslated by Charles CottonProject Gutenberg ebook #3600
Is it impossible to know that one and two are equal to three, but by virtue of this, or some such axiom, viz.
John LockeAn Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 2 MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 3 and 4Project Gutenberg ebook #10616