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
Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller recently put together a hypothetical trade package that would send Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara to the Blue Jays in exchange for Arjun Nimmala and Charles McAdoo.
—
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
The latest Emerson College survey created hypothetical 2028 match-ups between Vice President JD Vance, a Republican, and three prominent Democrats: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Sec.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 July 2025
Pelle Larsson: The concept of a perpetual motion machine is a hypothetical.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025
The value was arrived at not by valuing the property but by valuing a hypothetical business to be situated on the property.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
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Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
The latest Emerson College survey created hypothetical 2028 match-ups between Vice President JD Vance, a Republican, and three prominent Democrats: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Sec.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 July 2025
Pelle Larsson: The concept of a perpetual motion machine is a hypothetical.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025
The value was arrived at not by valuing the property but by valuing a hypothetical business to be situated on the property.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 July 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 6 Aug. 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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