Meaning & use
hypothetical
Based on a suggested situation or idea rather than on something that has actually happened.
See it in a sentence
The professor posed a hypothetical scenario to see how students would react under pressure.
Losing my job is purely hypothetical, but I still like to have savings just in case.
A note on using this word
Often used with a noun like 'hypothetical situation' or 'hypothetical question'; contrast with 'theoretical', which leans more toward formal scientific reasoning.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A suggested situation or idea used to explore possible outcomes, without claiming it is true.
Let's consider a hypothetical: what would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hypothetical”, then compare your use with the examples above.