hypothesis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem and that can be tested by further observation, investigation, or experimentation.

   This hypothesis goes by many names, including group resistence, the threshold effect, and the gender paradox. Because the hypothesis holds such wide appeal, it is worth revisiting the logic behind it. The hypothesis is built on the factual observation that fewer females than males act antisocially.

2. 2
   noun

   a tentative insight into the natural world

3. 3
   noun

   a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

4. 4
   noun

   a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

5. 5
   noun

   An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation.

6. 6
   noun

   The antecedent of a conditional statement.

Etymology

Recorded since 1596, from Middle French hypothese, from Late Latin hypothesis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις (hupóthesis, “base, basis of an argument, supposition”, literally “a placing under”), itself from ὑποτίθημι (hupotíthēmi, “to set before, suggest”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”). Compare hypothec.