hypothetical
Americanadjective
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assumed or entertained as a theoretical possibility, invented example, premise for argument’s sake, etc.; supposed.
In the hypothetical case that you miss your flight or it is delayed, you will need a contingency plan.
- Synonyms:
- speculative, theoretical, supposition, academic
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relating to or characterized by the use of assumptions for argument’s sake or of provisional, informed conjectures to guide investigation.
Science depends on hypothetical reasoning.
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Logic.
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(of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
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(of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.
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tending to resort to theoretical assumptions, conditional propositions, invented examples, etc., especially unrealistic ones; speculative.
His stuff is fun to read, but he’s so hypothetical I can’t take him seriously.
Stop the worry spiral in your mind before your thoughts become too hypothetical.
noun
-
hypotheticals
plural
adjective
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having the nature of a hypothesis
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assumed or thought to exist
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logic another word for conditional
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existing only as an idea or concept
a time machine is a hypothetical device
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hypothetical
First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek hypothetik(ós) “supposed” ( hypo- hypo- + the- “placed, put,” base of tithénai “to place, put, set”) + -tikos -tic ) + -al 1
Explanation
Everyone who has ever taken a science class knows the word "hypothesis," which means an idea, or a guess, that you are going to test through an experiment. A hypothetical is related to that. It means something based on an informed guess. Hypotheticals are fun. How would you do in a hypothetical arm-wrestling competition against your Grandma? There are people in the Pentagon whose jobs are to consider all kinds of hypotheticals––what if Luxembourg armed itself with nuclear weapons? What if France developed the ability to pelt Switzerland with cannons firing cheeses?
Vocabulary lists containing hypothetical
Argumentative Writing
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Words That Could Go Either Way: Synonyms for "Maybe"
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This hypothetical scenario is called Kessler Syndrome, but I propose renaming it Tesla Syndrome, given that Elon Musk’s Starlink has nearly 11,000 satellites in orbit, with eventual plans to launch as many as 42,000.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
Even though it remains to be seen how a hypothetical deal would be structured, Seaport Research’s Jay Goldberg was cautious about this sort of arrangement.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
With the UAE, such relationships have moved far beyond the hypothetical.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
"The public debate tends to focus on total hypothetical debt accrued, as opposed to what students actually end up repaying," the university said.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
It’s a hypothetical molecular-engineering technology in which objects are designed and built with the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
People who deal in hypotheticals and emotions are generally unswayed by facts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
Gabbard's new assessment was heavy on hypotheticals, with the spy chief saying Iran could "produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly."
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2025
That plays into my romantic side, and I don’t see the value in running hypotheticals about why it’s happening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025
"We're not going to go into hypotheticals other than to say we've been preparing assiduously for all these outcomes," said EU spokesman Olof Gill.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2025
SABIO, MARIA: Ved, please provide all hypotheticals relative to the following question: What repercussions would occur if Ridge Sabio traveled back in time to Red Knot, Delaware, in the 1990s and arrived safely?
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
