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 of hypothetical

• theoretical
• speculative

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

Star City takes us to the other side of the Iron Curtain, exploring this hypothetical scenario from the Soviet side. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026

In the Green New Deal discussion, though, this hypothetical meat ban effectively functioned as metaphorical shortcut for progressive political overreach. — David Rooney, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

One is to look for hypothetical superstructures called Dyson spheres, which were a familiar concept to Kardashev as they had been imagined by American physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

However, the study does not consider possible future facilities, such as a city hall, since the results can’t be based on hypothetical scenarios to be determined by a future deciding body. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

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