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hypothesis

hy-POTH-uh-sis /haɪˈpɒθ.ə.sɪs/

nounB2GRESATTOEFLIELTSACT

academicgeneral

A proposed, testable explanation for a phenomenon, used as a starting point for further investigation.

Must be tentative and empirical; unlike a theory, a hypothesis is an unproven assumption awaiting experimental verification.

The story behind the word. From Greek 'hypothesis' (foundation, groundwork, or supposition). Constructed from 'hypo-' (under) and 'thesis' (a placing or proposition). It literally means 'putting something underneath' as a foundation or springboard for further argument. It passed through Latin into Early Modern English as a core term of scientific inquiry.

Word relationships

conjecture: A conjecture is an opinion based on incomplete information, whereas a hypothesis is structured specifically to be tested experimentally.
proposition: A proposition is a formal logical statement, while a hypothesis explicitly requires empirical investigation.

proven fact: A proven fact is established reality, whereas a hypothesis is an unverified proposed explanation.

Commonly confused with

theory: A hypothesis is an initial unproven proposal, whereas a scientific theory is a thoroughly tested system of concepts.

Word family

hypothesize (verb): To formulate an initial proposed explanation.
hypothetical (adjective): Based on a suggested idea rather than actual facts.
hypothetically (adverb): In a manner involving a hypothetical scenario.

Collocations

working hypothesis
null hypothesis
formulate a hypothesis
test a hypothesis

Example sentences

"The researchers formulated a testable hypothesis regarding the impact of microplastics on marine cell health." Methodology
"Isaac Newton famously declared 'Hypotheses non fingo' (I frame no hypotheses), emphasizing his reliance on mathematical calculation over unproven speculation." Classical science quote (Isaac Newton, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica)

Memory hook

HYPO means UNDER; a HYPOTHESIS is the UNDERLYING idea placed down before doing experiments. A proposed explanation placed under test.

When not to use

Do not confuse with a full scientific 'theory', which is an extensively tested, well-supported explanatory framework.

Fun facts

In statistics, the 'null hypothesis' is the default assumption that no relationship exists between two measured phenomena until evidence proves otherwise.