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

Maybe this is the real way the posts maintain a noticeably less toxic vibe than some kind of hypothetical Make Animalia Great Again approach. —Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2025

The conversion of an existing hotel enabled SJSU to bring more student housing into San Jose at a swifter pace than a ground-up development of a similar hypothetical residential tower in the same area, Staedler said. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025

That, of course, is hypothetical for now. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

The key to the seemingly simple, hypothetical trade, however, is the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. —Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 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