definitions

hypothetical

[ hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl ]
/ ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪ kəl /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hypothetical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also hy·po·thet·ic (for defs 1–4).

assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
given to making hypotheses.
Logic.
  1. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
  2. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

noun

a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

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RELATED WORDS

alleged, apparent, conjectural, hypothetical, inferential, likely, presumptive, suppositional, suppositious, supposititious, suppositive, asserted, presumed, purported, abstract, academic, analytical, assumed, contingent, general

Nearby words

hypotheses, hypothesis, hypothesis testing, hypothesise, hypothesize, hypothetical, hypothetical imperative, hypothetico-deductive, hypothetico-deductive method, hypothrombinemia, hypothymia

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypothetic

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetic

hypothetical

hypothetic

/ (ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl) /

adjective

having the nature of a hypothesis
assumed or thought to exist
logic another word for conditional (def. 4)
existing only as an idea or concepta time machine is a hypothetical device
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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper