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hypothetical

adj. · n.
US //ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtəkəɫ// UK //hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl// hy·po·thet·i·cal
  1. 1 imagined or theoretical (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    describes a situation that is not real but is imagined to help explain an idea.

    based on a hypothesis or conjecture rather than established facts. Often used to describe theoretical scenarios in academic or legal discourse.

    Example

    The teacher asked a hypothetical question about what we would do with a million dollars.

    Example

    The researchers discussed a hypothetical scenario in which global temperatures rose by four degrees, purely to test the limits of their climate model.
  2. 2 conditional (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    depending on something else happening first.

    contingent upon a specific antecedent or condition; expressing a condition in logic.

    Example

    The lawyer argued that the witness's answer was based on a hypothetical event that never occurred.

    Example

    The contract included a hypothetical clause that would only be triggered if the primary supplier declared bankruptcy within the first fiscal year.
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  1. 3 a 'what if' situation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    an imagined example or situation used to test an idea.

    a hypothetical proposition, statement, or situation. Often used in the phrase 'dealing in hypotheticals'.

    Example

    Let's stop talking about hypotheticals and look at the data we actually have.

    Example

    The debate moved away from concrete policy into a series of complex hypotheticals that confused the general audience.
Origin

From Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós).

Word family

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