This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base, and they are still among the most common bases.
Denne brede brug af begrebet skyldes sandsynligvis at alkalierne var de første observerede baser der overhorldt Arrhenius' definition på en base, og de er stadig blandt de oftest sete baser.