# hypothetical

/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtəkəɫ/ (US) · /hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hypothetical
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. imagined or theoretical

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- The teacher asked a hypothetical question about what we would do with a million dollars.
- The researchers discussed a hypothetical scenario in which global temperatures rose by four degrees, purely to test the limits of their climate model.

### 2. conditional

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

depending on something else happening first.

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

- The lawyer argued that the witness's answer was based on a hypothetical event that never occurred.
- The contract included a hypothetical clause that would only be triggered if the primary supplier declared bankruptcy within the first fiscal year.

### 3. a 'what if' situation

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

an imagined example or situation used to test an idea.

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

- Let's stop talking about hypotheticals and look at the data we actually have.
- The debate moved away from concrete policy into a series of complex hypotheticals that confused the general audience.

## Examples

- Let's look at a hypothetical situation where you win the lottery.
- The professor used a hypothetical case study to help the students understand how the law applies in complex situations.
- While the results are promising in a controlled environment, the hypothetical benefits of the new policy remain untested in a real-world economic setting.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.