hypothesis

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Related to hypothesis: Null hypothesis, Hypothesis testing, research hypothesis

hy·poth·e·sis

(hī-pŏth′ĭ-sĭs)

n. pl. hy·poth·e·ses (-sēz′)

1. A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

2. Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.

3. The antecedent of a conditional statement.

[Latin, subject for a speech, from Greek hupothesis, proposal, supposition, from hupotithenai, hupothe-, to suppose : hupo-, hypo- + tithenai, to place; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hypothesis

(haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs)

n, pl -ses (-ˌsiːz)

1. 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 theory⁵

2. an assumption used in an argument without its being endorsed; a supposition

3. (Logic) an unproved theory; a conjecture

[C16: from Greek, from hupotithenai to propose, suppose, literally: put under; see hypo-, thesis]

hyˈpothesist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hy•poth•e•sis

(haɪˈpɒθ ə sɪs, hɪ-)

n., pl. -ses (-ˌsiz)

1. a provisional theory set forth to explain some class of phenomena, either accepted as a guide to future investigation (working hypothesis) or assumed for the sake of argument and testing.

2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.

3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

4. a mere assumption or guess.

[1590–1600; < Greek hypóthesis basis, supposition = hypo(ti)thé(nai) to assume, suppose (hypo- hypo- + tithénai to put, place) + -sis -sis]

hy•poth′e•sist, n.

syn: See theory.

hy·poth·e·sis

(hī-pŏth′ĭ-sĭs)

Plural hypotheses (hī-pŏth′ĭ-sēz′)

A statement that explains a set of facts and can be tested to determine if it is false or inaccurate.

Usage The words hypothesis, law, and theory refer to different kinds of statements that scientists make about natural phenomena. A hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a set of facts. It forms the basis for an experiment that is designed to test whether it is true. Suppose your friend Smedley's room is a mess; your hypothesis might be that Smedley makes the room messy. You could test this hypothesis with an experiment: tidy up the room and see if it becomes messy again after Smedley returns. A scientific law is a statement that is believed to be true all the time for a set of conditions. If Smedley's room is always a mess when he is in it, you might propose a "Smedley's Mess Law" stating that whenever Smedley is in his room, he will always make it messy. Laws have the power to predict what will happen under the conditions they apply to. Thus, "Smedley's Mess Law" predicts that Smedley's room will be messy anytime Smedley is in it. A theory is a set of principles or statements devised to explain a whole group of observations or phenomena. A theory thus tries to account for a wider variety of events than a law does. Broad acceptance of a theory comes when it has been repeatedly tested experimentally on new data and makes accurate predictions about them. If people noticed that it became messy everywhere Smedley went, it might lead to the theory that Smedley brings messiness wherever he goes. This theory could be tested by bringing Smedley somewhere he's never been.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hypothesis

1. a principle or proposition that is assumed for the sake of argument or that is taken for granted to proceed to the proof of the point in question.
2. a system or theory created to account for something that is not understood. — hypothesist, hypothetist, n. — hypothetic, hypothetical, adj.

hypothesis

A suggested explanation for events and phenomena.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	hypothesis - a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations proposal - something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
	2.	hypothesis - a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices" theory, possibility concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances hypothetical - a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.; "consider the following, just as a hypothetical" gemmule - the physically discrete element that Darwin proposed as responsible for heredity framework, model, theoretical account - a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process; "the computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems" conjecture, speculation - a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence); "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture" supposal, supposition, assumption - a hypothesis that is taken for granted; "any society is built upon certain assumptions" theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory" historicism - a theory that social and cultural events are determined by history
	3.	hypothesis - a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence guess, speculation, supposition, surmisal, surmise, conjecture opinion, view - a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; "his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page" divination - successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck

hypothesis

noun theory, premise, proposition, assumption, thesis, postulate, supposition, premiss Different hypotheses have been put forward.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

hypothesis

noun

A belief used as the basis for action:

theory.

Translations

إفْتِراض، فَرَضِيَّهفرضية

hypotézadomněnka

hypotese

Hypothese

υπόθεση

hipótesis

hypoteesiolettamusotaksuma

hypothèse

hipotézis

tilgáta

ipotesi ipotetico

仮定仮設仮説

hipotetinishipotetiškaihipotezė

hipotēze

hypothese stelling veronderstelling

hypotese

hipótese

гипотеза предположение

hypotéza

hipotez varsayım

假定假想假设

hypothesis

[haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs] N (hypotheses (pl)) [haɪˈpɒθɪsiːz] → hipótesis f inv

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

hypothesis

[haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs] [hypotheses] [haɪˈpɒθɪsiːz] (pl) n → hypothèse f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

hypothesis

n pl <hypotheses> → Hypothese f, → Annahme f; working hypothesis → Arbeitshypothese f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

hypothesis

[haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs] n (hypotheses (pl)) [haɪˈpɒθɪsiːz] → ipotesi f inv

hypothesis

(haiˈpoθəsis) – plural hyˈpotheses (-siːz) – noun

an unproved theory or point of view put forward, eg for the sake of argument.

hypothetical (haipəˈθetikəl) adjective

imaginary; supposed.

hypothetically (haipəˈθetikəli) adverb

hy·poth·e·sis

n. hipótesis, suposición asumida en el desarrollo de una teoría.

References in classic literature ?

And of this kind I spoke as the intelligible, although in the search after it the soul is compelled to use hypotheses; not ascending to a first principle, because she is unable to rise above the region of hypothesis, but employing the objects of which the shadows below are resemblances in their turn as images, they having in relation to the shadows and reflections of them a greater distinctness, and therefore a higher value.

View in context

For the present let it suffice for us to know that he accepted the "Development Hypothesis" as an explanation of the origin of species: but he did not halt where most naturalists have halted.

View in context

At any rate, will you condescend a little, and allow the question 'Whether virtue is given by instruction, or in any other way,' to be argued upon hypothesis? As the geometrician, when he is asked whether a certain triangle is capable being inscribed in a certain circle

View in context

An aristocracy, of which I have already treated in the first book, is rightly called so; for a state governed by the best men, upon the most virtuous principles, and not upon any hypothesis, which even good men may propose, has alone a right to be called an aristocracy, for it is there only that a man is at once a good man and a good citizen; while in other states men are good only relative to those states.

View in context

It ended with the double hypothesis: either the attraction of the moon would draw it to herself, and the travelers thus attain their end; or that the projectile, held in one immutable orbit, would gravitate around the lunar disc to all eternity.

View in context

"I'll explain all to you later on, Monsieur, when I think the moment to be ripe for doing so; but I don't think I have anything of more importance to say on this affair, if my hypothesis is justified."

View in context

But the hypothesis of continuity in mental development is clearly preferable if no psychological facts make it impossible.

View in context

But if such an hypothesis be indeed exceptionable, there were still additional considerations which, though not so strictly according with the wildness of his ruling passion, yet were by no means incapable of swaying him.

View in context

What was my working hypothesis of the Perfect Woman, towards whom I was thus leisurely strolling?

View in context

And on that fact and that basis he began to construct a fantastic edifice of hypothesis, that card-castle of philosophers; then, suddenly returning once more to reality, "Come!

View in context

The theory that this connection is based on the transference of the collective will of a people to certain historical personages is an hypothesis unconfirmed by the experience of history.

View in context

This circumstance is a clear indication of the sense of the convention, and furnishes a rule of interpretation out of the body of the act, which justifies the position I have advanced and refutes every hypothesis to the contrary.

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