hypothesis
English meaning: Hypothesis
Definition
A proposed explanation for something that can be tested through observation or experiment.
Example
“Her hypothesis was that plants near the window would grow faster than those in the dark corner.”
Another example: “Her hypothesis was that warmer water would make the fish grow faster.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A formal, academic countable noun used in science, statistics, and reasoning for a testable proposed explanation. Its plural is the irregular 'hypotheses'. In everyday speech 'theory' is often used loosely where scientists would say hypothesis.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Greek 'hypothesis' (foundation, supposition), from 'hypo-' (under) plus 'thesis' (placing).
Synonyms
- theory
- proposition
- supposition
- surmise
- conjecture
- speculation
- possibility
- guess
Related Words
- hypotheses
- posits
- null
- statistic
- riemann
- predicts
- conjecture
- schizophrenia
- explain
- evolutionary
- formulated
- probability
Common Collocations
- test a hypothesis
- null hypothesis
- working hypothesis
- support the hypothesis
- formulate a hypothesis
- reject the hypothesis
Word Forms
hypothesis (n); hypotheses (pl); hypothesize/hypothesise (v); hypothetical (adj)
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B