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

Polling of a hypothetical election matchup for lieutenant governor shows Republican incumbent Dan Patrick leading Democratic state Representative Vikki Goodwin, 46 percent to 42 percent. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

To see how this all works, consider Maria, a 58-year-old hypothetical diabetic patient who hasn’t filled her statin prescription. —Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Bankers and investors traditionally use revenue multiples to value sports teams, and WNBA has moved to the top of the table among major sports leagues at 12 times 2024 revenue, using a hypothetical Valkyries 2024 figure. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025

About half the time, the participant could pay for the information themselves out of their own hypothetical budget. —George E. Mitchell, The Conversation, 20 June 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