theoretically
Americanadverb
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in principle; according to reasonable assumptions or rules, as opposed to what actually happens.
Theoretically they are free to work, but in practice they can’t because we do not recognize their credentials.
-
in a way that is purely speculative; hypothetically.
It seems that theoretically the central bank could constrain government spending by allowing treasury checks to bounce.
-
according to, or in a way that relates to, a scientific theory.
An alloy with a particular composition can be modeled to determine theoretically whether it has suitable mechanical and physical properties for medical applications.
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in a way that relates to the set of principles or methods belonging to a particular subject, art, or activity.
Taking classes in all four fields—politics, economics, history, and culture—allows students to be grounded theoretically in the humanities and social sciences.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of theoretically
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.
Anyway, she had not gone through male puberty, which theoretically might have endowed her with a competitive advantage, because she had been taking puberty blockers and female hormones.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
"The process of identifying possible materials is so computationally heavy that, in fact, researchers have only been able to theoretically predict the viability of about 20 of these."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026
Marketed with the tagline “What if your pet could call you whenever they needed attention?,” the PetPhone allows owners to ring their pets and, theoretically, vice versa.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026
Any new EU measures are likely to be generic and theoretically usable against any trade partner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
When this happens, enharmonically spelled notes, scales, intervals, and chords, may not only be theoretically different.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
