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

While companies can license those characters for interactive experiences — one hypothetical Thomson offered was a Waymo with the voice of Prime — those can’t be manipulated in the way many unauthorized clips of Hasbro characters have been. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Picture two hypothetical restaurant owners, Ben and Bruno, whose businesses sit three blocks apart. — Jason Sisneros, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

While a hypothetical McDavid trade could yield a king’s ransom of picks, prospects and maybe even quality NHLers, transforming those pieces into a true contender in just one season is an incredibly tight turnaround. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The search for this elusive, hypothetical planet has taken many forms over the decades. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 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