meaning of latin word hypothesis

• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Synonyms
• 1.3.2 Derived terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 2.1 Etymology
• 2.2 Pronunciation
• 2.3.1 Declension

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

Recorded since 1596, from Middle French hypothese , from Late Latin hypothesis , from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις ( hupóthesis , “ base, basis of an argument, supposition ” , literally “ a placing under ” ) , itself from ὑποτίθημι ( hupotíthēmi , “ I set before, suggest ” ) , from ὑπό ( hupó , “ below ” ) + τίθημι ( títhēmi , “ I put, place ” ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( UK ) IPA ( key ) : /haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/ , /hɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/ , /həˈpɒθɪsɪs/ , /-əsəs/ , /-əsɪs/
• ( US ) IPA ( key ) : /haɪˈpɑː.θə.sɪs/

Noun [ edit ]

hypothesis ( plural hypotheses )

• 2001 September 27, Terrie E. Moffitt, Avshalom Caspi, Michael Rutter, Phil A. Silva, Sex Differences in Antisocial Behaviour: Conduct Disorder, Delinquency, and Violence in the Dunedin Longitudinal Study ‎ [1] , Cambridge University Press , →ISBN , page 151 : This hypothesis goes by many names, including group resistence, the threshold effect, and the gender paradox. Because the hypothesis holds such wide appeal, it is worth revisiting the logic behind it. The hypothesis is built on the factual observation that fewer females than males act antisocially.
• 2005 , Ronald H. Pine, http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/intelligent_design_or_no_model_creationism , 15 October 2005: Far too many of us have been taught in school that a scientist, in the course of trying to figure something out, will first come up with a " hypothesis " (a guess or surmise—not necessarily even an "educated" guess). ... [But t]he word " hypothesis " should be used, in science, exclusively for a reasoned, sensible, knowledge-informed explanation for why some phenomenon exists or occurs. An hypothesis can be as yet untested; can have already been tested; may have been falsified; may have not yet been falsified, although tested; or may have been tested in a myriad of ways countless times without being falsified; and it may come to be universally accepted by the scientific community. An understanding of the word " hypothesis ," as used in science, requires a grasp of the principles underlying Occam's Razor and Karl Popper's thought in regard to " falsifiability "—including the notion that any respectable scientific hypothesis must, in principle, be "capable of" being proven wrong (if it should, in fact, just happen to be wrong), but none can ever be proved to be true. One aspect of a proper understanding of the word " hypothesis ," as used in science, is that only a vanishingly small percentage of hypotheses could ever potentially become a theory.
• ( general ) An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation .
• ( grammar ) The antecedent of a conditional statement .

Synonyms [ edit ]

• supposition
• educated guess
• See also Thesaurus:supposition

Derived terms [ edit ]

• alternative hypothesis
• aquatic ape hypothesis
• Avogadro's hypothesis
• conspiracy hypothesis
• continuum hypothesis
• cosmic censorship hypothesis
• documentary hypothesis
• efficient market hypothesis
• ergodic hypothesis
• expectations hypothesis
• Fisher hypothesis
• Gaia hypothesis
• generalized continuum hypothesis
• God hypothesis
• Griesbach hypothesis
• hypothesize
• hypothetical
• hypothetically
• interface hypothesis
• just-world hypothesis
• level-ordering hypothesis
• mafia hypothesis
• Medea hypothesis
• Monro-Kellie hypothesis
• null hypothesis
• Omphalos hypothesis
• Out of India hypothesis
• ovulatory shift hypothesis
• permanent income hypothesis
• Prout's hypothesis
• Rare Earth hypothesis
• Red Queen hypothesis
• Riemann hypothesis
• Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
• Schinzel's hypothesis H
• sexy son hypothesis
• simulation hypothesis
• swoon hypothesis
• trickle-down hypothesis
• trickle down hypothesis
• Wellhausen's hypothesis
• working hypothesis
• zombie hypothesis

Translations [ edit ]

Latin [ edit ].

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις ( hupóthesis , “ hypothesis ” , noun ) .

• ( Classical ) IPA ( key ) : /hyˈpo.tʰe.sis/ , [hʏˈpɔt̪ʰɛs̠ɪs̠]
• ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /iˈpo.te.sis/ , [iˈpɔːt̪es̬is]

hypothesis   f ( genitive hypothesis or hypotheseōs or hypothesios ) ; third declension

Declension [ edit ]

1 Found sometimes in Medieval and New Latin.

• There is also genitive plural hypotheseōn .
• The genitive singular is also spelled hypotheseωs and the genitive plural hypotheseωn .

• English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁-
• English terms borrowed from Middle French
• English terms derived from Middle French
• English terms derived from Late Latin
• English terms derived from Ancient Greek
• English 4-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English terms with audio links
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
• English nouns with irregular plurals
• en:Sciences
• English terms with quotations
• Latin terms borrowed from Ancient Greek
• Latin terms derived from Ancient Greek
• Latin 4-syllable words
• Latin terms with IPA pronunciation
• Latin lemmas
• Latin nouns
• Latin third declension nouns
• Latin feminine nouns in the third declension
• Latin terms spelled with Y
• Latin feminine nouns
• English entries with language name categories using raw markup
• Requests for translations into Burmese
• Urdu terms with non-redundant manual transliterations
• Requests for translations into Russian
• Requests for review of French translations
• Requests for review of Icelandic translations
• Requests for review of Persian translations
• Requests for review of Romanian translations
• Requests for review of Swedish translations
• Requests for review of Turkish translations
• Latin nouns with red links in their inflection tables

Navigation menu

Translation of "hypothesis" into Latin

Hypothesis, hypothesis, Hypothesis are the top translations of "hypothesis" into Latin. Sample translated sentence: The favoured hypothesis for the origin of this geomorphologic unit is that shock waves generated during the impact traveled around the planet, and when they converged at the basin’s antipode (180 degrees away) the high stresses were capable of fracturing the surface. ↔ Hypothesis de huius geomorphologicae unitatis origine est ut impulsus undae, dum impulsus per planetam iter faceret generata sunt et, se in conchae antipodes (180 gradus longe) convergentibus, potentes pressiones superficiem frangere potuerunt.

(sciences) A tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem that can be tested by further observation, investigation and/or experimentation. [..]

English-Latin dictionary

proposed explanation for a phenomenon

Show algorithmically generated translations

Automatic translations of " hypothesis " into Latin

Translations with alternative spelling

Phrases similar to "hypothesis" with translations into Latin

• two-source hypothesis Hypothesis duorum fontium
• from the hypothesis ex hypothesi
• Articulata hypothesis Articulata
• Two-source hypothesis Hypothesis duorum fontium

Translations of "hypothesis" into Latin in sentences, translation memory

Dictionary definition of hypothesis

An educated guess or a proposed explanation for a phenomenon or a pattern of observations. "The experiment yielded results that supported the initial hypothesis."

Detailed meaning of hypothesis

It is a statement that can be tested through scientific experimentation or further observation. In scientific research, a hypothesis is used as a starting point for an investigation, and it serves as a basis for designing experiments and collecting data to either support or disprove it. A hypothesis typically consists of two parts: the independent variable, which is the factor being tested, and the dependent variable, which is the effect that is being observed. The hypothesis states the expected relationship between the two variables. For example, if a scientist wants to test the effect of a new drug on blood pressure, the independent variable would be the drug and the dependent variable would be the blood pressure. The hypothesis in this case would be "The new drug will lower blood pressure" A hypothesis is a crucial step in the scientific method as it guides the research and helps to focus on a specific question or problem. The results of the research and experimentation can support or disprove the hypothesis, and it can lead to new discoveries and knowledge. In summary, a hypothesis is an educated guess or proposed explanation for a phenomenon or a pattern of observations, it's a statement that can be tested through scientific experimentation or further observation, it's a crucial step in the scientific method that guides the research and helps to focus on a specific question or problem.

Example sentences of hypothesis

1. The scientist formulated a hypothesis to explain the observed phenomenon. 2. The hypothesis proposed by the researcher challenged the existing theories in the field. 3. The students conducted experiments to test their hypothesis about plant growth. 4. The hypothesis stated that increased exposure to sunlight would improve mood. 5. The team developed a hypothesis to investigate the effects of a new drug on cancer cells. 6. The hypothesis suggested that regular exercise would lead to improved cognitive function.

History and etymology of hypothesis

The noun 'hypothesis' draws its linguistic lineage from the combination of two ancient Greek elements. The first part, 'hypo,' originates from the Greek word 'hupo,' meaning 'under' or 'beneath.' The second component, 'thesis,' derives from 'tithēmi,' meaning 'to place' or 'to put forth.' In the context of scientific inquiry and philosophical discourse, the term 'hypothesis' embodies the notion of putting forth an educated guess or proposition that lies beneath the surface of empirical observation. It signifies a preliminary and testable explanation for a phenomenon or a pattern of observations. Thus, the etymology of 'hypothesis' underscores its foundational role in the systematic process of scientific inquiry, where ideas are posited as a starting point for further investigation and analysis.

Find the meaning of hypothesis

Further usage examples of hypothesis.

1. The scientist's hypothesis about the origins of the universe sparked a lively debate among colleagues. 2. The study aimed to confirm or refute the hypothesis that caffeine enhances athletic performance. 3. The researchers gathered data to support their hypothesis on the relationship between sleep and memory. 4. The hypothesis proposed that increased levels of pollution would lead to a decline in air quality. 5. The hypothesis suggested that exposure to violent media would lead to increased aggression in children. 6. The scientists revised their hypothesis based on the new evidence they gathered. 7. The study failed to confirm the hypothesis, leading the researchers to reconsider their approach. 8. The hypothesis provided a framework for the investigation, guiding the research process. 9. The scientist presented a compelling hypothesis that challenged conventional wisdom. 10. The hypothesis proposed that higher levels of stress would negatively affect decision-making abilities. 11. The researcher's hypothesis about the effects of music on productivity generated significant interest. 12. The study aimed to test the hypothesis that a specific diet would improve cardiovascular health. 13. The scientist formulated a hypothesis to test in the laboratory. 14. Her hypothesis about the market trends proved accurate. 15. We need evidence to support or refute this hypothesis. 16. The hypothesis was the starting point for the research project. 17. The hypothesis suggests a link between two variables. 18. He proposed an intriguing hypothesis for the mysterious phenomenon. 19. The hypothesis was based on years of careful observation. 20. The team's hypothesis challenged established scientific beliefs. 21. To validate the hypothesis, experiments were meticulously designed. 22. The hypothesis explained the unexpected results of the study. 23. Researchers are now testing the hypothesis with real-world data. 24. The success of the mission hinged on the accuracy of the initial hypothesis.

Quiz categories containing hypothesis

Multiple Choice

Opposite Words

Same/different

Spelling Bee

hunch,proposal

eb68db_80f17f7a153340fd98f74a39f7c06f32.mp3

theory, fact, certainty, knowledge

conjecture,postulate,premise,proposition,suggestion,supposition,thesis

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible pp 692–701 Cite as

• Martin W. Bauer 2  
• Reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2023

48 Accesses

The word “hypothesis” is of ancient Greek origin and composed of two parts: “hypo” for “under,” and “thesis” for “to put there”; in Latin, this translated “to suppose” or “supposition”; made up of “sub” [under] and “positum” [put there]. It refers to something that we put there, maybe to start with, maybe to stay with us as an installation. Hence in modern English we say “ let us hypothesize, suppose,” or “let us put it that … .,” and then we start the argument by developing implications and reaching conclusions. The term “hypothesis” marks a space of possibilities in several ways. Firstly, it is the uncertain starting point from which firmer conclusions might be drawn. Public reasoning examines how, from uncertain hypotheses, neither true nor false, we can nevertheless reach useful conclusions. Secondly, the hypothesis is the end point of a logical process of firming up on reality through scientific enquiry. Scientific methodology makes hypothesis testing the gold standard...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution .

Buying options

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Durable hardcover edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Barnes, J. (1984). The complete works of Aristotle – The revised Oxford translation (vols 1 and 2). Princeton: PUP.

Google Scholar  

Bauer, M. W., & Gaskell, G. (2008). Social representations theory: A progressive research programme for social psychology. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 38 (4), 335–354.

Article   Google Scholar  

Blumenberg, H. (1986). Die Lesbarkeit der Welt [The readability of the world] . Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Wissenschaft.

Brentano, F. (2015 [1874]). Psychology from an empirical standpoint . London: Routledge Classics.

Bruner, J. S. (1974). Beyond the information given – Studies in the psychology of knowing . London: George Allen & Unwin.

Daston, L. (2005). Fear and loathing of the imagination in science. DAEDALUS , Fall, 16–30.

Debrouwere, S., & Rosseel, Y. (2021). The conceptual, cunning, and conclusive experiment in psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science , 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211026947 .

Eco, U., & Sebeok, T. S. (Eds.). (1988). The sign of three – Dupin, Holmes and Pierce . Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Fassnacht, G. (2000). Bemetology – Towards continuous (self-)observation and personality assessment. In M. W. Bauer & G. Gaskell (Eds.), Qualitative researching with text, image and sound – A practical handbook (pp. 108–129). London: Sage.

Feyerabend, P. K. (1981). Problems of empiricism – Philosophical papers (Vol. 2). Cambridge: CUP.

Book   Google Scholar  

Foppa, K. (1965). Lernen, Gedaechtnis, Verhalten [learning, memory, behaviour] – Ergebnisse und Probleme der Lernpsychologie . Koeln: Kiepenheuer & Witsch.

Frigg, R. (2010). Models and fictions. Synthese, 172 , 251–268.

Gadamer, H. G. (1975 [1960]). Truth and method (2nd ed.). London: Sheed & Ward.

Geigerenzer, G. (2020). How to explain behaviour? Topics in Cognitive Science, 12 , 1363–1381.

Geigerenzer, G., Switjtink, Z., Porter, T., Daston, L., Beatty, J., & Krueger, L. (1989). The empire of chance – How probability changed science and everyday life . Cambridge: CUP.

Glass, D. J., & Hall, N. (2008). A brief history of the hypothesis. Cell, 8 , 378–381.

Gregory, R. L. (1980). Perceptions as hypothesis. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 290 , 181–197.

Groner, R. (1978). Hypothesen im Denkprozess [Hypothesis in thinking processes] – Grundlagen einer verallgemeinerten Theorie auf der Basis elementarer Informationsverarbeitung . Bern: Hans Huber Verlag.

Groner, R., Groner, M., & Bischof, W. F. (1983). Approaches to Heuristics: A historical review. In R. Groner et al. (Eds.), Methods of heuristics (pp. 1–18). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

Habermas, J. (1989). The theory of communicative action (two volumes) . Cambridge: Polity Press.

Harre, R. (1985). The philosophies of science – An introductory survey (2nd ed.). Oxford: OUP.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking – Fast and slow . London: Penguin.

Koehler, W. (1925). The mentality of apes . New York: Harcourt Brace.

Lewin, K. (1931). The conflict between Aristotelian and Galilean modes of thought in contemporary psychology. Journal of General Psychology, 5 , 141–177. [reprint in Gold M (1999) The complete social scientist – A Kurt Lewin reader . Washington: APA, pp. 37–66].

Lewin, K. (1936). Principles of topological psychology . New York: McGraw-Hill.

Lloyd, G. E. R. (1990). Demystifying mentalities . Cambridge: CUP.

Miller, G. A., Galanter, E., & Pribram, K. H. (1960). Plans and the structure of behaviour . London: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

Peters, D. (2013). Resistance and rationality: Some lessons from scientific revolutions. In M. W. Bauer, R. Harre, & C. Jensen (Eds.), Resistance and the practice of rationality (pp. 11–28). Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishers.

Piaget, J. (1972). The principles of genetic epistemology . London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Popper, K. R. (1972). Conjectures and refutations (4th revised ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Prinz, W. (2012). Open minds: The social making of agency and intentionality . Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Psillos, S. (2011). An explorer upon untrodden ground: Peirce on abduction. In Handbook of the history of logic (Vol. 10, pp. 117–151). Elsevier North Holland.

Rescher, H. (1964). Hypothetical reasoning . Amsterdam: North-Holland.

Scheel, A. M., Tiokhin, L., Isager, P. M., & Lakens, D. (2020). Why hypothesis testers should spend less time testing hypothesis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16 , 744–755.

Scheler, M. (1960[1925]). Wissensformen und die Gesellschaft [Types of knowledge and society], Gesammelte Werke Bd. 8. Bern/Muenchen: Francke Verlag.

Suppes, P. (1983). Heuristics and the axiomatic method. In R. Groner et al. (Eds.), Methods of heuristics (pp. 79–88). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK

Martin W. Bauer

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin W. Bauer .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

Vlad Petre Glăveanu

Section Editor information

Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

Sergio Agnoli

Marconi Institute for Creativity, Sasso Marconi, Italy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Cite this entry.

Bauer, M.W. (2022). Hypothesis. In: Glăveanu, V.P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_193

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_193

Published : 26 January 2023

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-030-90912-3

Online ISBN : 978-3-030-90913-0

eBook Packages : Behavioral Science and Psychology Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Share this entry

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Words and phrases

Personal account.

• Access or purchase personal subscriptions
• Get our newsletter
• Save searches
• Set display preferences

Institutional access

Sign in with library card

Sign in with username / password

Recommend to your librarian

Institutional account management

Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic

hypothesis noun

• Hide all quotations

What does the noun hypothesis mean?

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun hypothesis , two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun hypothesis ?

How is the noun hypothesis pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun hypothesis come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun hypothesis is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for hypothesis is from 1596, in the writing of Earl of Essex.

hypothesis is a borrowing from Greek.

Etymons: Greek ὑπόθεσις .

Nearby entries

• hypothecarious, adj. 1726–
• hypothecary, adj. 1656–
• hypothecate, v. 1693–
• hypothecation, n. 1681–
• hypothecative, adj. 1856–
• hypothecator, n. 1828–
• hypothecium, n. 1866–
• hypothenar, adj. 1706–
• hypothermia, n. 1886–
• hypothermic, adj. 1898–
• hypothesis, n. 1596–
• hypothesist, n. 1788–
• hypothesize, v. 1738–
• hypothesizer, n. 1833–
• hypothetic, adj. & n. a1680–
• hypothetical, adj. & n. 1588–
• hypothetically, adv. 1628–
• hypothetico-deductive, adj. 1912–
• hypothetico-deductively, adv. 1953–
• hypothetico-disjunctive, adj. & n. a1856–
• hypothetist, n. 1852–

Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary

To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.

Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for hypothesis, n..

hypothesis, n. was first published in 1899; not yet revised.

hypothesis, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into hypothesis, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1899)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View hypothesis in OED Second Edition

Please submit your feedback for hypothesis, n.

Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.

Citation details

Factsheet for hypothesis, n., browse entry.

• Latin English Dictionary
• English Latin Dictionary
• Using our Dictionary
• Abbreviations
• Bibliography
• Conjugation - Declension
• Grammaire Latine
• Authors and Characters
• Recommend this site
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy statement
• Contact Form

Welcome to the Latin Dictionary, the largest and most complete online Latin dictionary with a conjugator and a declension tool included. A very valuable resource for students and specialists. The Latin dictionary is available for free: do not hesitate to let us know about your comments and impressions.

How to search

Please keep ever in your mind that this is a dictionary and not an automatic translator. Consequently, you must search for one word at once. During the normal search of verbs remember that in latin you are to look for the first person of the present indicative, the names and adjectives must be searched with the masculine nominative singular. By clicking on the appropriate box in the search form, the search will also be performed within the inflected forms. Idioms, figures of speech and quotes appear in the Latin Dictionary under the various forms which compose them. Please type one word at a time among the most significant words in the sentence. For more information, read our Instructions Using our Dictionary .

Declensions / Conjugations latin

Discover the conjugation of Latin verbs and Latin declensions with our conjugator and declension tool, unique in the world on the Internet.

Dictionary English-Latin

• Dissionari piemontèis

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder

Word of the Day

• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Grammar Coach ™
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Advertisement

[ hahy- poth - uh -sis , hi- ]

• a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation working hypothesis or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
• a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
• the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
• a mere assumption or guess.

/ haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs /

• See theory a suggested explanation for a group of facts or phenomena, either accepted as a basis for further verification ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as likely to be true Compare theory
• an assumption used in an argument without its being endorsed; a supposition
• an unproved theory; a conjecture

/ hī-pŏth ′ ĭ-sĭs /

, Plural hypotheses hī-pŏth ′ ĭ-sēz′

• A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability.
• plur. hypotheses (heye- poth -uh-seez) In science, a statement of a possible explanation for some natural phenomenon. A hypothesis is tested by drawing conclusions from it; if observation and experimentation show a conclusion to be false, the hypothesis must be false. ( See scientific method and theory .)

Discover More

Derived forms.

• hyˈpothesist , noun

Other Words From

• hy·pothe·sist noun
• counter·hy·pothe·sis noun plural counterhypotheses
• subhy·pothe·sis noun plural subhypotheses

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothesis 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

Each one is a set of questions we’re fascinated by and hypotheses we’re testing.

Mousa’s research hinges on the “contact hypothesis,” the idea that positive interactions among rival group members can reduce prejudices.

Do more research on it, come up with a hypothesis as to why it underperforms, and try to improve it.

Now is the time to test your hypotheses to figure out what’s changing in your customers’ worlds, and address these topics directly.

Whether computing power alone is enough to fuel continued machine learning breakthroughs is a source of debate, but it seems clear we’ll be able to test the hypothesis.

Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis.

The leading hypothesis for the ultimate source of the Ebola virus, and where it retreats in between outbreaks, lies in bats.

In 1996, John Paul II called the Big Bang theory “more than a hypothesis.”

To be clear: There have been no double-blind or controlled studies that conclusively confirm this hair-loss hypothesis.

The bacteria-driven-ritual hypothesis ignores the huge diversity of reasons that could push someone to perform a religious ritual.

And remember it is by our hypothesis the best possible form and arrangement of that lesson.

Taken in connection with what we know of the nebulæ, the proof of Laplace's nebular hypothesis may fairly be regarded as complete.

What has become of the letter from M. de St. Mars, said to have been discovered some years ago, confirming this last hypothesis?

To admit that there had really been any communication between the dead man and the living one is also an hypothesis.

"I consider it highly probable," asserted Aunt Maria, forgetting her Scandinavian hypothesis.

Related Words

• explanation
• interpretation
• proposition
• supposition

More About Hypothesis

What is a hypothesis .

In science, a hypothesis is a statement or proposition that attempts to explain phenomena or facts. Hypotheses are often tested to see if they are accurate.

Crafting a useful hypothesis is one of the early steps in the scientific method , which is central to every field of scientific experimentation. A useful scientific hypothesis is based on current, accepted scientific knowledge and is testable.

Outside of science, the word hypothesis is often used more loosely to mean a guess or prediction.

Why is hypothesis important?

The first records of the term hypothesis come from around 1590. It comes from the Greek term hypóthesis , meaning “basis, supposition.”

Trustworthy science involves experiments and tests. In order to have an experiment, you need to test something. In science, that something is called a hypothesis . It is important to remember that, in science, a verified hypothesis is not actually confirmed to be an absolute truth. Instead, it is accepted to be accurate according to modern knowledge. Science always allows for the possibility that new information could disprove a widely accepted hypothesis .

Related to this, scientists will usually only propose a new hypothesis when new information is discovered because there is no reason to test something that is already accepted as scientifically accurate.

Did you know … ?

It can take a long time and even the discovery of new technology to confirm that a hypothesis is accurate. Physicist Albert Einstein ’s 1916 theory of relativity contained hypotheses about space and time that have only been confirmed recently, thanks to modern technology!

What are real-life examples of hypothesis ?

While in science, hypothesis has a narrow meaning, in general use its meaning is broader.

"This study confirms the hypothesis that individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 have persistent objectively measurable cognitive deficits." (N=81,337) Ventilation subgroup show 7-point reduction in IQ https://t.co/50xrNNHC5E — Claire Lehmann (@clairlemon) July 23, 2021

Not everyone drives. They can walk, cycle, catch a train, tram etc. That’s alternatives. What’s your alternative in your hypothesis? — Barry (@Bazzaboy1982) July 27, 2021

What other words are related to hypothesis ?

• scientific method
• scientific theory

Quiz yourself!

True or False?

In science, a hypothesis must be based on current scientific information and be testable.

[ ak -s uh -lot-l ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

hypothesize (v.)

"to form hypotheses," 1738, from hypothesis + -ize . Hypothetize is an alternative form, preserving the consonant of the Greek base. Related: Hypothesized ; hypothesizing .

Entries linking to hypothesize

1590s, "a particular statement;" 1650s, "a proposition, assumed and taken for granted, used as a premise," from French hypothese and directly from Late Latin hypothesis , from Greek hypothesis "base, groundwork, foundation," hence in extended use "basis of an argument, supposition," literally "a placing under," from hypo- "under" (see hypo- ) + thesis "a placing, proposition" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). A term in logic; narrower scientific sense is from 1640s.

chiefly British English spelling of hypothesize ; for suffix, see -ize . Related: Hypothesised ; hypothesising .

• See all related words ( 4 ) >

Trends of hypothesize

More to explore, share hypothesize.

updated on October 09, 2020

Trending words

• 1 . vexillology
• 3 . saunter
• 4 . philadelphia
• 5 . vintage
• 10 . manifest

Dictionary entries near hypothesize

hypothecate

hypothermia

hypothesise

hypothesize

hypothetical

• English (English)
• 简体中文 (Chinese)
• Deutsch (German)
• Español (Spanish)
• Français (French)
• Italiano (Italian)
• 日本語 (Japanese)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• Português (Portuguese)
• 繁體中文 (Chinese)

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of hypothesis in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• abstraction
• afterthought
• anthropocentrism
• anti-Darwinian
• exceptionalism
• foundation stone
• great minds think alike idiom
• non-dogmatic
• non-empirical
• non-material
• non-practical
• social Darwinism
• supersensible
• the domino theory

hypothesis | American Dictionary

Hypothesis | business english, examples of hypothesis, translations of hypothesis.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

the fact that people or animals do what they are told to do

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun
• American    Noun
• Business    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add hypothesis to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of hypothesis noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• to formulate/confirm a hypothesis
• a hypothesis about the function of dreams
• There is little evidence to support these hypotheses.
• formulate/​advance a theory/​hypothesis
• build/​construct/​create/​develop a simple/​theoretical/​mathematical model
• develop/​establish/​provide/​use a theoretical/​conceptual framework
• advance/​argue/​develop the thesis that…
• explore an idea/​a concept/​a hypothesis
• make a prediction/​an inference
• base a prediction/​your calculations on something
• investigate/​evaluate/​accept/​challenge/​reject a theory/​hypothesis/​model
• design an experiment/​a questionnaire/​a study/​a test
• do research/​an experiment/​an analysis
• make observations/​measurements/​calculations
• carry out/​conduct/​perform an experiment/​a test/​a longitudinal study/​observations/​clinical trials
• run an experiment/​a simulation/​clinical trials
• repeat an experiment/​a test/​an analysis
• replicate a study/​the results/​the findings
• observe/​study/​examine/​investigate/​assess a pattern/​a process/​a behaviour
• fund/​support the research/​project/​study
• seek/​provide/​get/​secure funding for research
• collect/​gather/​extract data/​information
• yield data/​evidence/​similar findings/​the same results
• analyse/​examine the data/​soil samples/​a specimen
• consider/​compare/​interpret the results/​findings
• fit the data/​model
• confirm/​support/​verify a prediction/​a hypothesis/​the results/​the findings
• prove a conjecture/​hypothesis/​theorem
• draw/​make/​reach the same conclusions
• read/​review the records/​literature
• describe/​report an experiment/​a study
• present/​publish/​summarize the results/​findings
• present/​publish/​read/​review/​cite a paper in a scientific journal
• Her hypothesis concerns the role of electromagnetic radiation.
• Her study is based on the hypothesis that language simplification is possible.
• It is possible to make a hypothesis on the basis of this graph.
• None of the hypotheses can be rejected at this stage.
• Scientists have proposed a bold hypothesis.
• She used this data to test her hypothesis
• The hypothesis predicts that children will perform better on task A than on task B.
• The results confirmed his hypothesis on the use of modal verbs.
• These observations appear to support our working hypothesis.
• a speculative hypothesis concerning the nature of matter
• an interesting hypothesis about the development of language
• Advances in genetics seem to confirm these hypotheses.
• His hypothesis about what dreams mean provoked a lot of debate.
• Research supports the hypothesis that language skills are centred in the left side of the brain.
• The survey will be used to test the hypothesis that people who work outside the home are fitter and happier.
• This economic model is really a working hypothesis.
• speculative
• concern something
• be based on something
• predict something
• on a/​the hypothesis
• hypothesis about
• hypothesis concerning

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• It would be pointless to engage in hypothesis before we have the facts.

Other results

Nearby words.

• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

ex hypothesi

Definition of ex hypothesi

Word history.

New Latin, from a hypothesis

1603, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near ex hypothesi

Cite this entry.

“Ex hypothesi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ex%20hypothesi. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 19, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 9 superb owl words, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

Related Words and Phrases

Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250].