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hypothetical

[hahy-puh-thet-i-kuh l]
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adjective Also hy·po·thet·ic (for defs 1–4).
  1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
  2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
  3. given to making hypotheses.
  4. Logic.
    1. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
    2. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.
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noun
  1. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.
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Origin of hypothetical

1580–90; < Greek hypothetik(ós) supposed (hypo- hypo- + the- put (base of tithénai to put, do1) + -tikos -tic) + -al1
Related formshy·po·thet·i·cal·ly, adverbun·hy·po·thet·i·cal, adjectiveun·hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. suppositional, theoretical, speculative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hypothetic

Historical Examples

  • Either after us, or about to be, was the hypothetic form of my conjecture.

    The Quadroon

    Mayne Reid

  • The walk was long enough to give me time for many a hypothetic calculation.

    The Quadroon

    Mayne Reid

  • He left his hypothetic sentence unfinished, and relapsed into silence.

  • Although this too hypothetic conception is now forgotten, it is sufficient for our purposes.

  • It is very frequently employed in hypothetic and contingent propositions; e. g.

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetic

hypothetical

hypothetic

adjective
  1. having the nature of a hypothesis
  2. assumed or thought to exist
  3. logic another word for conditional (def. 4)
  4. existing only as an idea or concepta time machine is a hypothetical device
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Derived Formshypothetically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hypothetic

hypothetical

adj.

1580s, from Greek hypothetikos "pertaining to a hypothesis," from hypothesis (see hypothesis). Related: Hypothetically; hypothetic.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper