English Explanatory Dictionary

hypothesis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem and that can be tested by further observation, investigation, or experimentation.
  2. An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation.
  3. The antecedent of a conditional statement.

Pronunciation

/haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/ /hɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/ /həˈpɒθɪsɪs/ /-əsəs/ /-əsɪs/ [haɪˈpʰɑθəsɪs] en-us-hypothesis.ogg

Word forms

hypothesis hypotheses

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.

Synonyms

educated guess guess supposition conjecture thesis theory[Appendix:Glossary assumption foreguess given guesstimate hunch hypothesis inference overhope posit possibility postulation presumption reckoning speculation surmise suspicion theory working hypothesis

Derived words

alternative hypothesis aquatic ape hypothesis Avogadro's hypothesis berserker hypothesis conspiracy hypothesis continuum hypothesis cosmic censorship hypothesis counterhypothesis critical brain hypothesis dark forest hypothesis documentary hypothesis efficient market hypothesis ergodic hypothesis expectations hypothesis Fisher hypothesis five-minute hypothesis Gaia hypothesis generalized continuum hypothesis God hypothesis Griesbach hypothesis Habakkuk hypothesis hypothesist hypothesize hypothetic hypothetical hypothetically induction hypothesis inductive hypothesis interface hypothesis just-world hypothesis level-ordering hypothesis mafia hypothesis Medea hypothesis Monro-Kellie hypothesis multihypothesis null hypothesis Omphalos hypothesis Out of India hypothesis ovulatory shift hypothesis permanent income hypothesis Prout's hypothesis Rare Earth hypothesis Red Queen hypothesis Riemann hypothesis Sapir-Whorf hypothesis Schinzel's hypothesis H sexy son hypothesis simulation hypothesis subhypothesis swaddling hypothesis swoon hypothesis trickle-down hypothesis trickle down hypothesis Wellhausen's hypothesis working hypothesis zombie hypothesis
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