hypothetical
heye-puh-THEH-tih-kuhl
Hypothetical (adjective) means Based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument. Example: “Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the deal falls through.”
adjective
1
Based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument.
"Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the deal falls through."
"His plan relies on several hypothetical assumptions."
"The teacher asked us to solve a hypothetical problem about sharing a pizza fairly."
noun
1
An imagined scenario used for discussion.
"The interview posed a tricky hypothetical about ethics."
"That question is just a hypothetical, so there is no need to worry."
"The lecturer opened the class with a hypothetical about finding a lost wallet."
How to use hypothetical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot real, but proposed as a "what if" for the sake of discussion.
Common pairings
purely hypothetical
a hypothetical scenario
speaking hypothetically
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Word forms
- Plural
- hypotheticals
- Comparative
- more hypothetical
- Superlative
- most hypothetical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Let's consider a _____ situation where the deal falls through.
Etymology
From Greek hypothetikos, related to hypothesis.
Synonyms
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speculative
theoretical
conjectural
supposed
presumed
supposititious
suppositious
divinatory
suppositional
hypothetic
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hypothetical
See all rhymes for hypothetical →Frequently asked questions
What does “hypothetical” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “hypothetical”?
“Hypothetical” is pronounced heye-puh-THEH-tih-kuhl ([ˌhaɪpəˈθɛɾɪkəɫ] in IPA).
How do you use “hypothetical” in a sentence?
Here is “hypothetical” used in a sentence: “Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the deal falls through.”
What is the opposite of “hypothetical”?
The opposite of “hypothetical” — its antonyms — are actual and categorical.
What part of speech is “hypothetical”?
Depending on how it is used, “hypothetical” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “hypothetical” come from?
The word “hypothetical” comes from Greek. From Greek hypothetikos, related to hypothesis.
Is “hypothetical” a common word?
“Hypothetical” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “hypothetical” have?
“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.
What is the difference between hypothetical and theoretical?
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.
What does it mean to pose a hypothetical in a discussion or interview?
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.
Is hypothetical the same as speculative?
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.
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