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

Houck estimates a hypothetical 1,000 qubit computer would roughly work a billion times better than best quantum computers today. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025

Trish, with her hypothetical, stereotypical diasporic novel within the novel, becomes a double for Lai. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025

And investigating these shapes could reveal which of these hypothetical particles is the best recipe for dark matter. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025

This week Utah turned that hypothetical into reality. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 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