adjective
hypothetical
heye-puh-THEH-tih-kuhl
adjective
1
Based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument.
"Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the deal falls through."
"His plan relies on several hypothetical assumptions."
noun
1
An imagined scenario used for discussion.
"The interview posed a tricky hypothetical about ethics."
How to Use Hypothetical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot real, but proposed as a "what if" for the sake of discussion.
Common pairings
purely hypothetical
a hypothetical scenario
speaking hypothetically
Word Forms
more hypothetical comparative, hypotheticals plural, most hypothetical superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “hypothetical”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Let's consider a _____ situation where the deal falls through.
Etymology
From Greek hypothetikos, related to hypothesis.