hypothetical

Intermediatezipf 3.61

Pronunciation

/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/(hy-puh-THET-ik-ul)

Part of speech

adjectiveneutral

Chinese

假设的；假定的（基于想象而非事实）

Definition

Based on an imagined situation rather than facts; supposed but not proven.

Word family

  • hypothesis/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/(n)假说
  • hypothetically/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəli/(adv)假设地
  • hypothesize/haɪˈpɒθəsaɪz/(v)假设

Collocations

  • hypothetical question
  • hypothetical scenario
  • purely hypothetical
  • hypothetical situation

Examples

  1. 1.Let's consider a hypothetical scenario: what if oil runs out? (imagined)
  2. 2.The argument is purely hypothetical — it hasn't been tested. (theoretical)

Synonyms

  • theoretical/ˌθɪəˈrɛtɪkəl/— based on theory
  • speculative/ˈspɛkjʊlətɪv/— based on guessing
  • supposed/səˈpəʊzd/— assumed to be true

Etymology

hypo- (under/below) + thesis (a placing/proposition) — a proposition placed under examination