WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hy•po•thet•i•cal /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/USA pronunciation
adj. Also, ˌhy•poˈthet•ic.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- assumed to exist by hypothesis;
supposed:a hypothetical situation. - of, relating to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis:hypothetical reasoning.
hy•po•thet•i•cal
(hī′pə thet′i kəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
hy′po•thet′i•cal•ly, adv.
- assumed by hypothesis;
supposed:a hypothetical case. - of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis:hypothetical reasoning.
- given to making hypotheses.
- Philosophy[Logic.]
- (of a proposition) highly conjectural;
not well supported by available evidence. - (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.
- (of a proposition) highly conjectural;
n.
- a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.:The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.
- Greek hypothetik(ós) supposed (hypo- hypo- + the- put (base of tithénai to put, do1) + -tikos -tic) + -al1
- 1580–90
- 1. suppositional, theoretical, speculative.
'hypothetically' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):