hypothetical

[hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. 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

2. 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.

3. Logic.

   1. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.

   2. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

4. 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

1. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc..

   The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

hypothetical

/ ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl /

adjective

1. having the nature of a hypothesis

2. assumed or thought to exist

3. logic another word for conditional

4. existing only as an idea or concept

   a time machine is a hypothetical device

Other Word Forms

• hypothetically adverb
• unhypothetical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothetical¹

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

Example Sentences

“I don’t get upset about all the hypotheticals.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Flying a drone over the Caribbean is easier than over Ukraine, where electronic warfare has rendered many American-made drones ineffective or unusable, and the distances are shorter than in a hypothetical China-Taiwan conflict.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The measured gamma ray energy spectrum, which describes how the intensity of the emission varies, closely matches model predictions for the annihilation of hypothetical WIMPs with masses roughly 500 times that of a proton.

Read more on Science Daily

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme on Tuesday, Sir Brian said he was "not prepared to comment" on the government's "hypothetical" unpublished plans.

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He compared this hypothetical world to Iain M. Banks’ sci-fi “Culture” novels, where abundance is so extreme that traditional economies disappear.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• debatable 
• imaginary 
• problematic 
• speculative 
• theoretical 
• vague