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
Not in some hypothetical future—but right now, in workflows that have long resisted automation.
—
Don Muir, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Here's the full hypothetical trade: Yankees receive: RHP Bobby Miller
Dodgers receive: OF Everson Pereira, LHP Brock Selvidge
The Dodgers are seemingly ready to move on from former top prospect Bobby Miller.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
Trump pollster Fabrizio, Lee & Associates reportedly found Paxton leading Cornyn by 25 points in a hypothetical head-to-head.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
The Nuggets lost the first two meetings, seemingly clinching a hypothetical head-to-head tiebreaker for the Clippers.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
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Don Muir, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Here's the full hypothetical trade: Yankees receive: RHP Bobby Miller
Dodgers receive: OF Everson Pereira, LHP Brock Selvidge
The Dodgers are seemingly ready to move on from former top prospect Bobby Miller.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
Trump pollster Fabrizio, Lee & Associates reportedly found Paxton leading Cornyn by 25 points in a hypothetical head-to-head.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
The Nuggets lost the first two meetings, seemingly clinching a hypothetical head-to-head tiebreaker for the Clippers.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 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 19 Apr. 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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