Hypothetical

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ËŒhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkl/

Origin

From Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός

Full definition of hypothetical

Adjective

1. Based upon a hypothesis; conjectural
• 2006, , S:ACLU v. NSA (District Court opinion), To establish standing under Article III, a plaintiff must satisfy the following three requirements: (1) "the plaintiff must have suffered an injury in fact - an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized, and (b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical"; ...
2. (philosophy) conditional; contingent upon some hypothesis/antecedent

Synonyms

• conjectural
• (contingent upon some hypothesis) conditional

Antonyms

• (actual) actual
• (in philosophy) categorical

Noun

1. A hypothetical situation or propositionThese hypotheticals serve no purpose until we have more information.

Related terms

• hypothesis
• hypothesize