Meaning & use
null hypothesis
In statistics, the assumption that there is no effect or difference, tested against the possibility of a real one.
See it in a sentence
The researchers could not reject the null hypothesis, so the drug showed no clear benefit.
A significant result allows scientists to reject the null hypothesis with confidence.
A note on using this word
The null hypothesis is a starting assumption for statistical testing, not a claim the researcher necessarily believes to be true.
Words with a similar meaning
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