thesis

1 an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate <put forth the thesis that the electronic media's coverage of politics trivializes the workings of our democracy> Synonyms argument, assertion, contentionRelated Words conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, surmise, theory; proposal, proposition; assumption, presupposition, supposition; position, stand; case, explanation, rationale, reason

2 an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <it is not clear how the arguments you make actually support your thesis> Synonyms hypothesis, proposition, supposition, theoryRelated Words assumption, concession, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, theorem; conjecture, generalization, guess, guesswork, inference, speculation, surmise; proffer, proposal, suggestion; feeling, hunch, impression, inkling, notion, suspicion; abstraction, concept, conception, constructNear Antonyms assurance, certainty, fact, knowledge