hypothetical

hy·po·thet·i·cal

adj \ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl\

Definition of HYPOTHETICAL

: being or involving a hypothesis : conjectural <hypothetical arguments> <a hypothetical situation>

— hypothetical noun

— hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of HYPOTHETICAL

1. She described a hypothetical case to clarify her point.
2. <we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies>

First Known Use of HYPOTHETICAL

1588

Related to HYPOTHETICAL

Synonyms: academic (also academical), conjectural, theoretical, speculative, suppositional

Antonyms: actual, factual, real

Related Words: alleged, assumed, presumed, presupposed, proposed, supposed, unproved, unproven, untested; debatable, moot; abstract, conceptual, intellectual, metaphysical; nonclinical, nonpractical; nonempirical

Near Antonyms: clinical, practical; concrete, defined, definite, distinct; attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, tested, time-tested, validated, verified; empirical (also empiric), nonspeculative, nontheoretical, observational

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Rhymes with HYPOTHETICAL

antithetical, catechetical, exegetical, parenthetical, theoretical