scientific theory
15
4.2
- noun
- /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈθɪəri/
- Specialized
:
teoría científica
- And that's why dark matter is a good scientific theory in principle, because it explains a lot from very little.
- a testable scientific theory
- the best scientific theories
So, so so no real serious scientist would say that any scientific theory has been proved.
- So, so so no real serious scientist would say that any scientific theory has been proved.
- Are there things that we might not be able to think possible true scientific theories we might not be able to understand ever?
- And it's also, I think, intrinsic to what it means to be a scientific theory.
Examples
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According to the scientific theory of evolution, species adapt over time through natural selection.
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So this is the first time that a collection of scientific theories were published and disseminated in one volume.
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We need to have a good scientific theory of when and how experience occurs.
Blog text (11) -
We are constantly finding our scientific theories put to the test the further we explore.
Blog text (6) -
Therefore, this may be an example of a proposed scientific theory that seems promising but turns out to be incorrect.
Academic text (1990) -
But to choose one scientific theory over another is still to remain absolutely true to science.
Academic text (1998) -
We can't develop a scientific theory of language based on metaphors.
Academic text (2006) -
The problem is that advanced scientific theory clashes with many of these commonsense biases.
Academic text (2009) -
Piaget's (1964) scientific theory, constructivism, was the guiding theoretical force of this study.
Academic text (2009) -
Students can acquire a basic understanding of scientific theories, experimentation, and discoveries through Edulink's Viewpoint-powered three-dimensional lab.
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
∞
3.2
An idea or group of ideas that explains facts in science
Antonyms
How Well-Supported
- Specialized
206
5.0
- Specialized
15
4.2
∞
3.2
138
6.1
288
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'scientific' (connected to science) modifies 'theory' (a set of ideas explaining facts), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a theory grounded in scientific methods and evidence. While 'theory' can sometimes mean a casual guess in everyday speech, the adjective 'scientific' clearly narrows the meaning to an evidence-based explanation, making the phrase predictable for B1 learners.
Etymology
Scientific theory gives a simple picture: imagine building a wall from many blocks, each block a piece of evidence tested in experiments. The word theory is the whole wall and scientific shows the blocks were checked carefully. So a 'scientific theory' is not just a guess but a well-tested 'explanation' built from many facts.