proposal

The word “proposal” means a plan or suggestion put forward for others to consider. In plain terms, a plan put forward for consideration, or specifically an offer of marriage.

“Proposal” is pronounced pruh-POH-zuhl (/pɹəˈpoʊzəl/ in IPA).

Here is “proposal” used in a sentence: “The committee will vote on the proposal next week.”

“Proposal” is a noun.

“Proposal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Proposal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plan or suggestion put forward for others to consider.

A proposal is a plan or suggestion offered for others to consider and often act on, such as a business or project proposal. A proposition is more often a statement to be discussed or a claim to be judged true or false, though in business the two overlap and both can mean an offer.

Common kinds include business proposals, which pitch products or services; project and research proposals, which outline planned work and funding; and policy or grant proposals. Outside work, "proposal" also famously means an offer of marriage. Each type sets out an idea for others to weigh up and approve.

A quote, or quotation, states a fixed price for specific work. A proposal is broader: it explains the plan, approach, scope and benefits, and usually includes pricing as part of a persuasive case. A quote answers "how much?", while a proposal answers "what, how and why?" as well.

A company sending a client a document that outlines a service, timeline and cost is a classic proposal. So is a researcher submitting a plan to win funding, or a councillor putting forward a suggestion for a new bus route. Each puts an idea forward for others to consider.