hypothetical

adjective

hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl How to pronounce hypothetical (audio)
: involving or being based on a suggested idea or theory : being or involving a hypothesis : conjectural
hypothetical arguments
a hypothetical situation
hypothetical noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Early in the spring, Wyeth’s friend Bernard had said to him that his black people were always hypothetical and that this gave his work a sterile air. Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 The scientists behind the project hope those crystals will interact with the hypothetical dark matter particles known as WIMPs. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025 Ultimately, Bayless is going off of a hypothetical scenario that cannot be proven or disproven. MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 Fitzgerald didn't provide specifics about what that argument will look like, but there are various hypothetical ways that abuse can happen. Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hypothetical

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypothetical was in 1588

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetical. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hypothetical

adjective
hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal ˌhi-pə-ˈthet-i-kəl How to pronounce hypothetical (audio)
1
: involving a hypothesis or the making of assumptions : assumed
2
: imagined for purposes of example
a hypothetical case
hypothetically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hypothetical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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