hypothetical

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled ypothetical

US /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #14296

Meanings

1

adj
Based on a possible situation or idea rather than on real facts.

Let's consider a hypothetical case where the company loses its biggest client.
2

noun
An imagined situation used as an example for discussion.

These hypotheticals serve no purpose until we have more information.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · based on a possible... conjectural

Opposites

actual categorical

Word family

Derived forms antihypotheticalhypotheticalityhypotheticallynonhypotheticalunhypothetical

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

hypothetical imperative
a principle specifying what action is necessary to achieve a chosen goal

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós).

ὑποθετικός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# hypothetical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 14296

## Meanings
1. Based on a possible situation or idea rather than on real facts.
2. An imagined situation used as an example for discussion.

## Examples
- Let's consider a hypothetical case where the company loses its biggest client.
- These hypotheticals serve no purpose until we have more information.

## Antonyms
- actual
- categorical

## Derived Forms
- antihypothetical
- hypotheticality
- hypothetically
- nonhypothetical
- unhypothetical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ὑποθετικός

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós).

## AI Etymology
Hypothetical is from Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós). In present-day use, it can mean based on a possible situation or idea rather than on real facts, or an imagined situation used as an example for discussion. Derived formations include antihypothetical, hypotheticality, hypothetically, nonhypothetical, and unhypothetical.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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