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

• academic
• academical
• conjectural
• speculative
• suppositional
• theoretical
• theoretic

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

Health has been viewed primarily as a function of hypothetical future costs in wealth planning. —Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

The debate over Rose’s place in Cooperstown is now more than a hypothetical. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 May 2025

But in the hypothetical world where Republicans actually cared about the efficiency of government and Democrats actually cared about the quality of public services, that’s what Congress would do. —Matthew Yglesias, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025

Steelers vs Vikings in Ireland The Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings, which could also be viewed as the Aaron Rodgers hypothetical bowl, will be held in Dublin, Ireland on NFL Network in Week 4. —Seth Quinn, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

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