hypothetical

[ hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl ]

/ ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪ kəl /

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See synonyms for: hypothetical / hypothetically on Thesaurus.com

adjective Also hy·po·thet·ic

[hahy-puh-thet-ik] /ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪk/ (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.

(of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
(of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

noun

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

OTHER WORDS FOR hypothetical

1 academic, supposition, theoretical, speculative.

See synonyms for hypothetical on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of hypothetical

First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek hypothetik(ós) “supposed” (hypo- hypo- + the- “put” (base of tithénai “to put, do”) + -tikos -tic) + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM hypothetical

hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly, adverbun·hy·po·thet·i·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use hypothetical in a sentence

An improved and enlarged edition of this hypothetic "Progonotaxis hominis" was published in 1908, in my essay Unsere Ahnenreihe.
Evolution in Modern Thought|Ernst Haeckel
He was acting on hypothetic grounds, but this was the sort of action that had the keenest interest for his diplomatic mind.
Romola|George Eliot
It is here that the relation of the hypothetic transformistic principle to our concept of entelechy is concerned.
The Science and Philosophy of the Organism|Hans Driesch
The brown eyes blazed on him with the anger meant for his hypothetic slanderer.
Ambrotox and Limping Dick|Oliver Fleming

When disproved, it is shown to have been a false supposition; when proved, it is no longer hypothetic.
An Introduction to the History of Science|Walter Libby

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetical

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 forms of hypothetical

hypothetically, 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

hypothetical

OTHER WORDS FOR hypothetical

Origin of hypothetical

OTHER WORDS FROM hypothetical

Words related to hypothetical

How to use hypothetical in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetical

hypothetic

Derived forms of hypothetical