hypothetical

[ hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl ]
See synonyms for: hypotheticalhypothetically on Thesaurus.com

adjectiveAlso hy·po·thet·ic [hahy-puh-thet-ik] /ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪk/
  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.

  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.

  1. Logic.

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

    • (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional (def. 3).

  2. 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.

Origin of hypothetical

1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek hypothetik(ós) “supposed” (hypo- hypo- + the- “placed, put,” base of tithénai “to place, put, set”) + -tikos -tic) + -al1

Other words for hypothetical

Other words from hypothetical

  • hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·hy·po·thet·i·cal, adjective

Words Nearby hypothetical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hypothetical in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetical

hypothetical

hypothetic

/ (ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl) /


adjective
  1. having the nature of a hypothesis

  2. assumed or thought to exist

  1. logic another word for conditional (def. 4)

  2. existing only as an idea or concept: a 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