hypothetical

The word “hypothetical” means based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument. In plain terms, not real, but proposed as a "what if" for the sake of discussion.

“Hypothetical” is pronounced heye-puh-THEH-tih-kuhl ([ˌhaɪpəˈθɛɾɪkəɫ] in IPA).

Here is “hypothetical” used in a sentence: “Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the deal falls through.”

The opposite of “hypothetical” — its antonyms — are actual and categorical.

Depending on how it is used, “hypothetical” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “hypothetical” comes from Greek. From Greek hypothetikos, related to hypothesis.

“Hypothetical” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

“Hypothetical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument.

Hypothetical describes a scenario that is imagined or supposed for the sake of argument, without any claim that it reflects reality. Theoretical relates more broadly to ideas grounded in theory or abstract principles, which may or may not involve an invented scenario, so the two overlap but aren't identical.

Posing a hypothetical means presenting an imagined situation, often starting with "what if," to test someone's reasoning or opinion without requiring it to be a real event. It's a common technique in debates, interviews, and classrooms to explore how someone would respond to a given set of circumstances.

They are closely related: both describe ideas not grounded in confirmed fact. Hypothetical more specifically refers to a supposed scenario set up for discussion or argument, while speculative can describe any guess or theory about something uncertain, whether or not it's framed as a specific scenario.