hypothetical
adjective
hy·po·thet·i·cal
ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 
: involving or being based on a suggested idea or theory : being or involving a hypothesis : conjectural
hypothetical arguments
a hypothetical situation
hypothetical
noun
Examples of hypothetical in a Sentence
She described a hypothetical case to clarify her point.
we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies
Recent Examples on the Web
The study found that a hypothetical investor with even the worst market timing crushed the returns of one who stayed in cash between 2003 and 2022.
—
Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
No more debating whether a spot should go to the most deserving team or the team that would be favored in a hypothetical matchup.
—Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
That report is expected by June, setting up another hypothetical showdown on the incinerator question in July, according to the schedule laid out by Chair Anthony Rodriguez, a Republican representing parts of western Miami-Dade.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
For months, Trump and his inner circle had demurred and speculated over the start and hypothetical end of the war in Ukraine, and displayed an indifference to Kyiv’s sovereignty that signaled a jarring shift in policy was coming.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
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Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
No more debating whether a spot should go to the most deserving team or the team that would be favored in a hypothetical matchup.
—Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
That report is expected by June, setting up another hypothetical showdown on the incinerator question in July, according to the schedule laid out by Chair Anthony Rodriguez, a Republican representing parts of western Miami-Dade.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
For months, Trump and his inner circle had demurred and speculated over the start and hypothetical end of the war in Ukraine, and displayed an indifference to Kyiv’s sovereignty that signaled a jarring shift in policy was coming.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetical. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypothetical
adjective
hy·po·thet·i·cal
ˌhi-pə-ˈthet-i-kəl
1
: involving a hypothesis or the making of assumptions : assumed
2
: imagined for purposes of example
a hypothetical case
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