hypothesis

American  

[hahy-poth-uh-sis, hi-] / haɪˈpɒθ ə sɪs, hɪ- /

noun

plural

hypotheses

1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation working hypothesis or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.

2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.

3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

4. a mere assumption or guess.

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hypothesis British  

/ haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs /

noun

1. a suggested explanation for a group of facts or phenomena, either accepted as a basis for further verification ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as likely to be true Compare theory

2. an assumption used in an argument without its being endorsed; a supposition

3. an unproved theory; a conjecture

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hypothesis Scientific  

/ hī-pŏth′ĭ-sĭs /

plural

hypotheses

1. A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability.

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hypothesis Cultural  

1. plur. hypotheses (heye-poth-uh-seez) In science, a statement of a possible explanation for some natural phenomenon. A hypothesis is tested by drawing conclusions from it; if observation and experimentation show a conclusion to be false, the hypothesis must be false. (See scientific method and theory.)

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Usage

What is a hypothesis? In science, a hypothesis is a statement or proposition that attempts to explain phenomena or facts. Hypotheses are often tested to see if they are accurate.Crafting a useful hypothesis is one of the early steps in the scientific method, which is central to every field of scientific experimentation. A useful scientific hypothesis is based on current, accepted scientific knowledge and is testable.Outside of science, the word hypothesis is often used more loosely to mean a guess or prediction.

Related Words

See theory.

Other Word Forms

• counterhypothesis noun
• hypothesist noun
• subhypothesis noun

Etymology

Origin of hypothesis

First recorded in 1590–1600, hypothesis is from the Greek word hypóthesis “basis, supposition”; hypo-, thesis

Example Sentences

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission for decades has overseen regulation of prediction markets—or event contracts, as we refer to them—that help market participants hedge risk, aggregate information and test hypotheses about future outcomes.

From The Wall Street Journal

It seems like it should be easy to test this hypothesis: Show that the African Four Successes followed the Three Secrets while the nonsuccesses did not.

From The Wall Street Journal

It can take an official announcement—of a purge, promotion or policy shift—to validate a hypothesis.

From The Wall Street Journal

The WHO's investigations have proved inconclusive, pending further evidence, with all hypotheses still on the table.

From Barron's

The team plans to test their hypothesis in the lab.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• assumption
• axiom
• conclusion
• conjecture
• explanation
• guess
• inference
• interpretation
• premise
• proposition
• rationale
• supposition
• theorem
• thesis