hypothetically

adverb

hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal·​ly ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

: by making an assumption for the sake of discussion or argument : in a hypothetical way

speaking hypothetically

In this lucid report … he uses genetic differences, maps, computer simulations and an analysis of linguistic changes in the world's languages to hypothetically reconstruct the mass migrations of people across continents since modern humans first appeared.

—Genevieve Stuttaford

We asked ourselves hypothetically: If the chairmen of the boards of these major tobacco companies walked in here today and said, "Okay, we're ready to do a deal," what did we want?

—Lewis H. Lapham

—used to suggest what is theoretically possible

Hypothetically, you could use a computer to synthesize a large number of harmonics, add them back together, and reproduce a sound similar to that of the bowed violin string.

—Dragan Huterer

Examples of hypothetically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That hypothetically leaves the Bombers with plenty of money to spread around and improve a team that just reached the World Series. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

The Environmental Defense Fund, which has historically taken legal action to create stronger environmental protections, could hypothetically be of those nonprofits to sue. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2024

Esmeralda would also, hypothetically, open up land to the public that was previously closed off. —Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 23 Oct. 2024

The possibility of Trevor hypothetically moving to Kansas to be with his daughter was enough of a dealbreaker for Tommy, whose roots are firmly planted in Austin. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above