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

Owen did not directly answer Heytens’s hypothetical question, instead insisting that the law at the center of the lawsuit was a violation of the contracts clause of the Constitution, which bars states from passing laws impairing public contracts. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026

According to Bracewell, the initiators of such a hypothetical contact scenario might choose to reveal their presence by intercepting and re-transmitting radio signals rather than engaging in direct communication. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Amazon has a hypothetical $50 billion chip business and can offer a roadmap to immense profitability. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

And there is still a hypothetical risk, election experts say, that the President could do something new and outlandishly lawless on or close to Election Day. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 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