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Definition of hypothesis

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The Difference Between Hypothesis and Theory

A hypothesis is an assumption, an idea that is proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be tested to see if it might be true.

In the scientific method, the hypothesis is constructed before any applicable research has been done, apart from a basic background review. You ask a question, read up on what has been studied before, and then form a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is usually tentative; it's an assumption or suggestion made strictly for the objective of being tested.

A theory , in contrast, is a principle that has been formed as an attempt to explain things that have already been substantiated by data. It is used in the names of a number of principles accepted in the scientific community, such as the Big Bang Theory . Because of the rigors of experimentation and control, it is understood to be more likely to be true than a hypothesis is.

In non-scientific use, however, hypothesis and theory are often used interchangeably to mean simply an idea, speculation, or hunch, with theory being the more common choice.

Since this casual use does away with the distinctions upheld by the scientific community, hypothesis and theory are prone to being wrongly interpreted even when they are encountered in scientific contexts—or at least, contexts that allude to scientific study without making the critical distinction that scientists employ when weighing hypotheses and theories.

The most common occurrence is when theory is interpreted—and sometimes even gleefully seized upon—to mean something having less truth value than other scientific principles. (The word law applies to principles so firmly established that they are almost never questioned, such as the law of gravity.)

This mistake is one of projection: since we use theory in general to mean something lightly speculated, then it's implied that scientists must be talking about the same level of uncertainty when they use theory to refer to their well-tested and reasoned principles.

The distinction has come to the forefront particularly on occasions when the content of science curricula in schools has been challenged—notably, when a school board in Georgia put stickers on textbooks stating that evolution was "a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things." As Kenneth R. Miller, a cell biologist at Brown University, has said , a theory "doesn’t mean a hunch or a guess. A theory is a system of explanations that ties together a whole bunch of facts. It not only explains those facts, but predicts what you ought to find from other observations and experiments.”

While theories are never completely infallible, they form the basis of scientific reasoning because, as Miller said "to the best of our ability, we’ve tested them, and they’ve held up."

• proposition
• supposition

hypothesis , theory , law mean a formula derived by inference from scientific data that explains a principle operating in nature.

hypothesis implies insufficient evidence to provide more than a tentative explanation.

theory implies a greater range of evidence and greater likelihood of truth.

law implies a statement of order and relation in nature that has been found to be invariable under the same conditions.

Examples of hypothesis in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypothesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Greek, from hypotithenai to put under, suppose, from hypo- + tithenai to put — more at do

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hypothesis

• nebular hypothesis
• null hypothesis
• planetesimal hypothesis
• Whorfian hypothesis
• counter - hypothesis

Articles Related to hypothesis

This is the Difference Between a...

This is the Difference Between a Hypothesis and a Theory

In scientific reasoning, they're two completely different things

Dictionary Entries Near hypothesis

hypothermia

hypothesize

Cite this Entry

“Hypothesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothesis. Accessed 6 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of hypothesis, medical definition, medical definition of hypothesis, more from merriam-webster on hypothesis.

Nglish: Translation of hypothesis for Spanish Speakers

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hypothesis

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IPA : haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs

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Phonetic spelling of hypothesis

hy-poth-e-sis 1 rating rating ratings Casper Nikolaus hy-poth-e-sis 1 rating rating ratings Private hy-po-thesis 1 rating rating ratings Adam Hermiston hy-po-thi-sis 0 rating rating ratings Lydia Hawk hahy-poth-uh-sis -1 rating rating ratings Private

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Meanings for hypothesis

An explanation is proposed on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further study. 0 rating rating ratings Larissa Greenfelder a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations 0 rating rating ratings Linda Fahey a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena 0 rating rating ratings Arvel Marks scientific hypothesis 0 rating rating ratings Enoch Kshlerin null hypothesis 0 rating rating ratings Matthew Harrison

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Antonyms for hypothesis

certainty 0 rating rating ratings Marietta Cremin

Learn more about the word "hypothesis" , its origin, alternative forms, and usage from Wiktionary.

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Examples of in a sentence

It is impossible to prove the prion hypothesis directly. 0 rating rating ratings Gussie Williamson he proposed a fresh theory 0 rating rating ratings Morton Stokes a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory 0 rating rating ratings Lesly Littel The Scott Walker hypothesis faces a test in Wisconsin 0 rating rating ratings Celestino Kris

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hypothesis pronunciation with meanings, synonyms, antonyms, translations, sentences and more

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hypothesis example in a phrase

three-part hypothesis

to negate a hypothesis

Definition of hypothesis

• a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
• 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 message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

Synonyms of hypothesis

• assumption pronunciation assumption [ en ]
• notion pronunciation notion [ en ]
• presumption pronunciation presumption [ en ]
• supposition pronunciation supposition [ en ]
• conjecture pronunciation conjecture [ en ]
• assuming pronunciation assuming [ en ]

Can you pronounce it better? Or with a different accent? Pronounce hypothesis in English

Translation of hypothesis

Can you pronounce it better? Or with a different accent? Pronounce hypothesis in Latin

Accents & languages on maps

• Record pronunciation for hypothesis hypothesis   [ en - usa ]

Random words: Australia ,  world ,  dog ,  walk ,  literature

How to pronounce

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What is the pronunciation of 'hypothesis' in English?

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Collocations

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• open_in_new Link to source
• warning Request revision
• hypocritical
• hypoglycemia
• hypotension
• hypothalamus
• hypothermia
• hypothesize
• hypothesized
• hypothetical
• hypothetically
• hysterectomy

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Definition of hypothesize verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hypothesize

• The causes can be hypothesized but not proved.
• We can only hypothesize that the cases we know about are typical.
• Let us try to hypothesize a particular market situation.
• There are particular problems that arise when hypothesizing about the origins of the universe.

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Definition of 'hypothesis'

Video: pronunciation of hypothesis

hypothesis in American English

Hypothesis in british english, examples of 'hypothesis' in a sentence hypothesis, related word partners hypothesis, trends of hypothesis.

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In other languages hypothesis

• American English : hypothesis / haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs /
• Brazilian Portuguese : hipótese
• Chinese : 假设
• European Spanish : hipótesis
• French : hypothèse
• German : Hypothese
• Italian : ipotesi
• Japanese : 仮説
• Korean : 가설
• European Portuguese : hipótese
• Spanish : hipótesis
• Thai : สมมุติฐาน

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• hypothermia
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Related terms of hypothesis

• Gaia hypothesis
• null hypothesis
• initial hypothesis
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Meaning of hypothesis – Learner’s Dictionary

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(Definition of hypothesis from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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