null hypothesis

noun

1. (in the statistical testing of a hypothesis) the hypothesis to be tested.

null hypothesis

noun

1. See alternative hypothesis, hypothesis testing
   statistics the residual hypothesis if the alternative hypothesis tested against it fails to achieve a predetermined significance level Compare hypothesis testing alternative hypothesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of null hypothesis¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Then they collect evidence to test whether that null hypothesis is true.

From Science News For Students

Rejecting a null hypothesis doesn’t tell an investigator anything new.

From Science News

Starting in the 1930s, Fisher devised a type of significance testing to analyze the likelihood of a null hypothesis, which a researcher could propose as either an effect or no effect.

From Science News

The most common analysis procedure in fMRI experiments, null hypothesis tests, require that the researcher designate a statistical threshold.

From Nautilus

If data disprove the null hypothesis, then they can conclude an effect of noise on whales.

From Science News For Students