What does premised mean?
Premised means founded on a particular premise: an underlying idea, assumption, or condition that the thing being discussed depends upon. Its usual form is “premised on,” as in a proposal premised on expected growth, or “premised upon,” which has a slightly more formal tone. The word is especially common in discussions of arguments, policies, strategies, theories, and plans, where it identifies the foundational assumption on which the reasoning rests. Although the wording can suggest soundness and deliberate structure, it does not guarantee that the premise itself is correct; indeed, a carefully constructed plan may still be premised on a mistaken assumption. The term is also used as a formal past participle of the rare verb “premise,” meaning to base or condition something on something else.
Founded or based on a stated premise, assumption, or condition.
"The proposal is premised on the assumption that the market will expand."
Most often appears in the established expressions “premised on” and “premised upon.” It is formal in register.
Past tense and past participle of “premise,” meaning to base or condition something on a particular premise.
"The argument is premised on the idea that all citizens share equal responsibility."
This verbal use is formal and less common than the corresponding use of “based” or “conditioned.”
A plan can be perfectly plausible yet still be premised on an assumption that turns out to be false.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does premised come from?
“Premised” was formed from “premise” with the suffix “-ed.” “Premise” entered Middle English from the Latin “praemissum,” a noun meaning a proposition laid down at the beginning of an argument or reasoning. The Latin word came from “praemittere,” formed from “prae-,” meaning before, and “mittere,” meaning to send or put forward. The related English noun “premiss” preserves the older sense of a preliminary proposition.
Related word forms
How premised is actually used
The expression “premised on” is more common than “premised upon.” The adjective is formal and especially common in analytical writing concerning arguments, proposals, strategies, and policies. In its verbal use, “premised” is less frequent and more formal than “based” or “conditioned.”
Easily confused with premised
A promise is a commitment that something will be done, whereas something premised is founded on an underlying assumption or condition.