associative law
nounDefinition of associative law
: a law indicating immateriality in the grouping of variables
specifically
: any law of the form (φRχ)Rψ=φR(χRψ) where φ, χ, ψ are variables and R a dyadic operator [as (a + b) + c=a + (b + c) in arithmetic or (pvq)vr.≡. p v(qvr) in the propositional calculus]
— called also principle of association