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hypothetical

- 2 dictionary results

hy⋅po⋅thet⋅i⋅cal

  [hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl]
Use hypothetical in a Sentence
–adjective
1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
3. given to making hypotheses.
4. Logic.
a. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
b. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.
–noun
5. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.
Also, hy⋅po⋅thet⋅ic (for defs. 1–4).

Origin:
1580–90; < Gk hypothetik(ós) supposed (hypo- hypo- + the- put (base of tithénai to put, do 1 ) + -tikos -tic ) + -al 1

Related forms:
hy⋅po⋅thet⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. suppositional, theoretical, speculative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hypothetical
hy·po·thet·i·cal   (hī'pə-thět'ĭ-kəl)   
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or based on a hypothesis: a hypothetical situation. See Synonyms at theoretical.
    1. Suppositional; uncertain. See Synonyms at supposed.
    2. Conditional; contingent.
n.  A hypothetical circumstance, condition, scenario, or situation: OK, let's consider this possibility then—just as a hypothetical.

[From Greek hupothetikos, from hupothetos, placed under, supposed, from hupotithenai, to suppose; see hypothesis.]
hy'po·thet'i·cal n., hy'po·thet'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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