hypothetical

[ hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl ]
/ ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪ kəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hypothetical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also hy·po·thet·ic (for defs 1–4).

assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
given to making hypotheses.
Logic.
  1. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
  2. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

noun

a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

Origin of hypothetical

1580–90; < Greek hypothetik(ós) supposed ( hypo- hypo- + the- put (base of tithénai to put, do1) + -tikos -tic) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM hypothetical

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

Words nearby hypothetical

hypothermal, hypothermia, hypothesis, hypothesis testing, hypothesize, hypothetical, hypothetical imperative, hypothetico-deductive, hypothetico-deductive method, hypothrombinemia, hypothymia

Words related to hypothetical

problematic, speculative, vague, imaginary, theoretical, debatable, academic, suspect, contingent, casual, conditional, conjectural, disputable, doubtful, equivocal, indefinite, indeterminate, presumptive, putative, questionable

Example sentences from the Web for hypothetical

British Dictionary definitions for hypothetical

hypothetical

hypothetic

/ (ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl) /

adjective

having the nature of a hypothesis
assumed or thought to exist
logic another word for conditional (def. 4)
existing only as an idea or concept a time machine is a hypothetical device

Derived forms of hypothetical

hypothetically, adverb