Skip to main content
hypothetical

hypothetical

19 6.8
An imagined situation used to discuss ideas
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/
translation icon : supuesto
  • In I opened my book with a hypothetical scenario of a nuclear terror attack.

Are there any real world examples that that come to mind or other hypotheticals?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The latest Pennsylvania puts Trump up one in a hypothetical match up against Kamala Harris.

  • And I have a hard time coming up with a hypothetical in which it would be relevant.

    Blog text (4)
  • OK, so our question of the week this week we we started with a bit of a hypothetical situation.

  • OK, so let's take a hypothetical situation.

  • So imagine let's just have a hypothetical situation.

  • What is the moral force of this kind of hypothetical agreement?

  • But let me let me pose A hypothetical scenario.

  • And the example that I always like to refer back to as a hypothetical is Moonlight.

  • The following hypotheticals may be used to generate discussion about problems related to the premises.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Let's consider a hypothetical scenario where everyone has access to free healthcare.

Synonyms

scenario
vshypothetical
507 4.3

A description of possible events used to plan for different outcomes

is a supposed situation assumed for argument or investigation

Antonyms

1.0

Something that can be shown to be true, not an opinion

190 3.3

Shows what is true rather than how things appear

Compounds

An animal or being imagined but not shown to exist

A rule that says to do something only if you want a certain result

How Realistic

case
2.0
scenario
507 4.3
hypothetical
19 6.8
gedanken
  • Specialized
1 9.9
imaginary
1 5.5

Surface Forms

hypothetical singular
hypotheticals plural

Morphology

hypothetical = hypothetical (semi-transparent) = hypo + thet + ical

This noun is a straightforward conversion of the adjective 'hypothetical' and means a hypothetical case or proposition.

Etymology

Hypothetical comes from Greek parts hypo- meaning 'under' and -thetical from a word meaning 'to place', the same root as hypothesis. So a hypothetical is a 'placed' idea or situation we use in argument or testing to see what would happen, not a proven fact.