hypothetical
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes a situation that is not real but is imagined to help explain an idea.
adj.based on a hypothesis or conjecture rather than established facts. Often used to describe theoretical scenarios in academic or legal discourse.
Simple“The teacher asked a hypothetical question about what we would do with a million dollars.”
In context“The researchers discussed a hypothetical scenario in which global temperatures rose by four degrees, purely to test the limits of their climate model.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.depending on something else happening first.
adj.contingent upon a specific antecedent or condition; expressing a condition in logic.
Simple“The lawyer argued that the witness's answer was based on a hypothetical event that never occurred.”
In context“The contract included a hypothetical clause that would only be triggered if the primary supplier declared bankruptcy within the first fiscal year.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.an imagined example or situation used to test an idea.
n.a hypothetical proposition, statement, or situation. Often used in the phrase 'dealing in hypotheticals'.
Simple“Let's stop talking about hypotheticals and look at the data we actually have.”
In context“The debate moved away from concrete policy into a series of complex hypotheticals that confused the general audience.”
Usage hypothetical scenario
From Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.