hypothetical

[hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl]

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.

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 for hypothetical

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1. suppositional, theoretical, speculative.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hypothetic

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

Examples from the Web for hypothetic

Historical Examples of hypothetic

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.
The Plant Hunters
Mayne Reid
Although this too hypothetic conception is now forgotten, it is sufficient for our purposes.
Essay on the Creative Imagination
Th. Ribot
It is very frequently employed in hypothetic and contingent propositions; e. g.
Grammar of the New Zealand language (2nd edition)
Robert Maunsell

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetic

hypothetical

hypothetic

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.