Home › Technology › Academic Research & Publishing › thesis

thesis

THEE-sis /ˈθiːsɪs/

nounB2GRETOEFLIELTS

academicformal

A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.

In academic contexts, it specifically refers to the central argument of an essay or research paper, or a long research paper submitted for a master's degree.

The story behind the word. The word 'thesis' comes from the Greek 'thesis,' meaning 'a placing, a setting, a proposition.' It literally referred to the act of 'placing' or 'setting down' an argument. In ancient rhetoric, it was the 'position' or 'point' a speaker would take. Over time, it evolved to refer to the formal academic paper where one 'lays out' and defends their intellectual position.

Word relationships

proposition: A statement or assertion offered for consideration or acceptance, often less formal than a thesis.
contention: A point maintained in an argument, often implying disagreement or debate.
argument: A reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong, broader than thesis.

antithesis: The direct opposite of a thesis or statement.
refutation: The action of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.

Commonly confused with

dissertation: A 'thesis' is typically for a master's degree, while a 'dissertation' is for a doctorate, generally longer and more extensive.
hypothesis: A 'hypothesis' is a testable prediction, often a preliminary step, whereas a 'thesis' is the main argument to be proven.

Word family

theses (noun): plural of thesis
thetic (adjective): relating to a thesis or proposition

Collocations

doctoral thesis
master's thesis
central thesis
defend a thesis
support a thesis

Example sentences

"Her master's thesis argued that early childhood education significantly impacts long-term cognitive development." The student spent months refining her central argument for her master's paper.
"The philosopher's entire work was built upon the fundamental thesis that human beings are inherently good." A philosophical discussion about a core idea.

Memory hook

Imagine a 'THEME' that you 'SET' down as your main argument. THE-sis, THEME-set. Theme Set

When not to use

While 'thesis' can mean a general argument, avoid using it for informal opinions or unsubstantiated claims. It implies a degree of formal argumentation or research.

Fun facts

In some European countries, 'thesis' is used for both master's and doctoral degrees, blurring the distinction with 'dissertation' that is common in North America.