theoretical

play

adjective the·o·ret·i·cal \ ˌthē-ə-ˈre-ti-kəl , ˌthir-ˈe- \

variants: or less commonly theoretic play \-tik\

Definition of theoretical

1 :existing only in theory :hypothetical

gave as an example a theoretical situation

2 a :relating to or having the character of theory :abstract

b :confined to theory or speculation often in contrast to practical applications :speculative

theoretical physics

3 :given to or skilled in theorizing

a brilliant theoretical physicist

See theoretical defined for English-language learners

See theoretical defined for kids

Examples of theoretical in a Sentence

On a theoretical level, hiring more people seems logical.
The idea is purely theoretical at this point.
The danger is more than just a theoretical possibility.

Recent Examples of theoretical from the Web

As the show proceeds, the tone of the recurrent trolley questions gets darker, as if to emphasize to the audience the potential consequences of even the most theoretical questions.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The show exposes the foibles and contradictions embedded in the minds of an audience.," 16 Aug. 2017
The federal government has worked to expand mental health care access and insurance coverage, but in many parts of the country, few mental health specialists accept insurance, rendering that theoretical benefit useless.

— shefali luthra, Kaiser Health News, "Obesity And Depression Are Entwined, Yet Scientists Don’t Know Why," 11 Aug. 2017
When scientists like Wilson became interested in theoretical questions of population ecology in the 1970s, the collections and the data about them proved essential.

— steven lubar, Smithsonian, "A Scholar Follows a Trail of Dead Mice and Discovers a Lesson in Why Museum Collections Matter," 10 Aug. 2017
On the other hand, the technology's theoretical advantages might not be enough to move many real-world customers.

— timothy b. lee, Ars Technica, "Investors poured millions into a storage network that doesn’t exist yet," 10 Aug. 2017
This detailed explanation of death via black hole, however, is theoretical.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Could You Crash Into a Black Hole?," 20 July 2017
However, the position proved problematic during the administration of former President Barrack Obama when Steven Koonin, also a theoretical physicist, served as undersecretary for science.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Nominee for Department of Energy’s undersecretary for science draws praise," 19 July 2017
And I have been involved in some of the observations that followed up on that and also in some of the theoretical modeling of this phenomenon.

— jessica gross, Longreads, "Why Are Humans So Curious?," 18 July 2017
Mirzakhani, whose theoretical work focused on understanding the symmetry of curved surfaces, received the medal at an event in Seoul in 2014.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "James Comey Is Reportedly Writing a Book," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theoretical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of theoretical

Late Latin theoreticus, from Greek theōrētikos, from theōrein to look at

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1601

See Words from the same year

theoretical Synonyms

Synonyms

academic (also academical), conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, suppositional

Antonyms

actual, factual, real

Related Words

alleged, assumed, presumed, presupposed, proposed, supposed, unproved, unproven, untested; debatable, moot; abstract, conceptual, intellectual, metaphysical; nonclinical, nonpractical; nonempirical

Near Antonyms

clinical, practical; concrete, defined, definite, distinct; attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, tested, time-tested, validated, verified; empirical (also empiric), nonspeculative, nontheoretical, observational

THEORETICAL Defined for English Language Learners

theoretical

play

adjective

Definition of theoretical for English Language Learners

: relating to what is possible or imagined rather than to what is known to be true or real
: relating to the general principles or ideas of a subject rather than the practical uses of those ideas

Learn More about theoretical

See words that rhyme with theoretical Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for theoretical Spanish Central: Translation of theoretical Nglish: Translation of theoretical for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of theoretical for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up theoretical? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

theoretical

Definition of theoretical

Examples of theoretical in a Sentence

Recent Examples of theoretical from the Web

Origin and Etymology of theoretical

theoretical Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

THEORETICAL Defined for English Language Learners

theoretical

Definition of theoretical for English Language Learners

Learn More about theoretical

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

yeasty

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Name That Thing

Dictionary Devil

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

theoretical

Definition of theoretical

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of theoretical in a Sentence

Recent Examples of theoretical from the Web

Origin and Etymology of theoretical

theoretical Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to THEORETICAL

Related Phrases

THEORETICAL Defined for English Language Learners

theoretical

Definition of theoretical for English Language Learners

Learn More about theoretical

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066