hypothetical

adjective

hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 

: involving or being based on a suggested idea or theory : being or involving a hypothesis : conjectural

hypothetical arguments

a hypothetical situation

hypothetical noun

Synonyms

• academic
• academical
• conjectural
• speculative
• suppositional
• theoretical
• theoretic

Examples of hypothetical in a Sentence

She described a hypothetical case to clarify her point.

we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies

Recent Examples on the Web

For The Other To Blink Given the view in Europe that Trump is abandoning NATO in favor of the Kremlin, in a hypothetical future conflict with Russia, Europe might worry that the U.S. could cut off spare parts and updates for the F-35, Aboulafia says. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025

And Billups, to cite that hypothetical, might do a great job. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025

Their hypothetical rap sheet could begin and end with entering the U.S. illegally, a misdemeanor, or residing in the U.S. without authorization, a civil offense. —Nelson Mauricio Rauda Zablah, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2025

Reliability cannot be adequately tested due to lack of scale, economic value is still hypothetical and early adopters may be buying the robot for curiosity or marketing purposes. 6. —Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypothetical

• alphabetical
• antithetical
• arithmetical
• catechetical
• exegetical
• homiletical
• parenthetical
• theoretical
• aesthetical
• genetical
• heretical
• magnetical

Kids Definition

hypothetical

adjective

hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal ˌhi-pə-ˈthet-i-kəl 

1

: involving a hypothesis or the making of assumptions : assumed

2

: imagined for purposes of example

a hypothetical case

hypothetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb