presupposition
This term describes a foundational assumption that must be true for a subsequent statement or argument to be logically valid. It differs from a simple premise in that a presupposition is often implicit or taken for granted rather than explicitly stated as part of a formal logical proof.
In linguistic contexts, it refers to the background information that a speaker and listener share, or assume they share, to ensure a sentence is meaningful. If the presupposition is false, the sentence is not necessarily false, but rather "void" or nonsensical in context.
Meanings
A thing that is assumed beforehand at the beginning of a line of argument or a course of action.
The entire theory rests on the presupposition that the market is rational.
In linguistics, an implicit assumption about the world or a background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted in order for the utterance to make sense.
The sentence 'The King of France is bald' carries the presupposition that there is currently a King of France.