thesis

The word “thesis” means a statement or claim put forward and supported by argument. In plain terms, either the main argument of a piece of writing, or a long academic paper written to earn a degree.

“Thesis” is pronounced THEE-sihs (/ˈθisɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “thesis” used in a sentence: “The essay's central thesis is that education reduces poverty.”

“Thesis” is a noun.

The word “thesis” comes from Greek. From Greek thesis ("a placing, proposition"), from tithemi ("to place, put").

“Thesis” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Thesis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a statement or claim put forward and supported by argument.

Both are long pieces of research writing submitted to complete an academic degree; which label applies depends mainly on country and level. In the US, a thesis is typically written for a master's degree and a dissertation for a doctorate, while in the UK the pattern is usually reversed. Individual universities set their own terminology.

A thesis statement is the sentence — usually placed near the end of the introduction — that states the claim your essay will argue and support. It reflects the core sense of "thesis": a statement put forward and defended by argument. A strong thesis statement is specific and debatable, not a plain statement of fact.

The plural is "theses," pronounced "THEE-seez." Like other Greek-derived nouns ending in -is — crisis/crises, analysis/analyses — "thesis" forms its plural by changing -is to -es. "Thesises" is not standard English.

A thesis is a claim you put forward and defend with argument and evidence — you assert that it is true. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that you set out to test and that may be disproved. Broadly, a hypothesis begins an investigation, while a thesis states an argued conclusion.