theoretical
adjective
the·o·ret·i·cal
ˌthē-ə-ˈre-ti-kəl 
ˌthir-ˈe-ti-kəl
variants
or less commonly theoretic
ˌthē-ə-ˈre-tik
ˌthir-ˈe-tik
1
: existing only in theory : hypothetical
gave as an example a theoretical situation
2
a
: relating to or having the character of theory : abstract
b
: confined to theory or speculation often in contrast to practical applications : speculative
theoretical physics
3
: given to or skilled in theorizing
a brilliant theoretical physicist
Examples of theoretical in a Sentence
On a theoretical level, hiring more people seems logical.
The idea is purely theoretical at this point.
The danger is more than just a theoretical possibility.
Recent Examples on the Web
In cosmology itself, there has been quite a bit of progress in the past five years to develop the theoretical techniques to understand these three-dimensional data that have been gathered by new devices….
—
Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Researchers must also address fundamental scientific and engineering problems before the technology can achieve its theoretical performance advantages.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
With little money or reputation, Griffin often hired inexperienced people who had impressed him in interviews, including Yeh, a graduate student in theoretical physics, and Beeson, a cop’s son who had studied accounting on a scholarship at DePaul.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Komargodski, a theoretical physicist at Stony Brook University, walked me through it.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
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Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Researchers must also address fundamental scientific and engineering problems before the technology can achieve its theoretical performance advantages.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
With little money or reputation, Griffin often hired inexperienced people who had impressed him in interviews, including Yeh, a graduate student in theoretical physics, and Beeson, a cop’s son who had studied accounting on a scholarship at DePaul.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Komargodski, a theoretical physicist at Stony Brook University, walked me through it.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theoretical. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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theoretical
adjective
the·o·ret·i·cal
ˌthē-ə-ˈret-i-kəl
ˌthi(-ə)r-ˈet-
variants
also theoretic
1
a
: relating to or having the character of theory : abstract
b
: limited to theory or speculation : speculative
theoretical physics
2
: existing only in theory : hypothetical
a theoretical situation
theoretically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
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