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Conjecture vs Postulate - What's the difference?

conjecture | postulate |

As nouns the difference between conjecture and postulate

is that conjecture is a statement or an idea which is unproven, but is thought to be true; a guess while postulate is something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument.

As verbs the difference between conjecture and postulate

is that conjecture is to guess; to venture an unproven idea while postulate is to assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.

As an adjective postulate is

postulated.

conjecture

English

Noun

  • (formal) A statement or an idea which is unproven, but is thought to be true; a .
  • I explained it, but it is pure conjecture whether he understood, or not.
  • (formal) A supposition based upon incomplete evidence; a hypothesis.
  • The physicist used his conjecture about subatomic particles to design an experiment.
  • (mathematics, philology) A statement likely to be true based on available evidence, but which has not been formally (l).
  • (obsolete) of signs and omens.
  • Synonyms

    * * See also

    Verb

    (conjectur)
  • (formal) To ; to venture an unproven idea.
  • I do not know if it is true; I am simply conjecturing here.
  • * South
  • Human reason can then, at the best, but conjecture what will be.

    postulate

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument.
  • A fundamental element; a basic principle.
  • (logic) An axiom.
  • A requirement; a prerequisite.
  • Verb

    (postulat)
  • To assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.
  • * 1883 , , Prop. XXII,
  • But this pleasure or pain is postulated to come to us accompanied by the idea of an external cause;
  • * 1911 , Encyclopædia Britannica , "",
  • [T]he attempt to arrive at a physical explanation of existence led the Ionian thinkers to postulate various primal elements or simply the infinite ?? ???????.
  • (ambitransitive, Christianity, historical) To appoint or request one's appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
  • * 1874 , John Small (ed.), The Poetical Works of Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld , Vol 1, p. xvi
  • [A]lthough Douglas was postulated to it [the Abbacy of Arbroath], and signed letters and papers under this designation his nomination was never completed.
  • (ambitransitive, obsolete) To request, demand or claim for oneself.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Postulated.
  • (Hudibras)
    English heteronyms ----