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hypothesis

hy-POTH-uh-sis /haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/

nounB2SATGRE

academicscientific

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, made as a starting point for further investigation, and which can be tested by experiment.

A hypothesis is a testable statement, not just a guess. It must be falsifiable, meaning there must be a possible outcome of an experiment that would prove it wrong.

The story behind the word. The word 'hypothesis' comes from ancient Greek, combining 'hypo-' meaning 'under' or 'beneath,' and 'thesis,' meaning 'a placing' or 'a proposition.' So, a hypothesis is literally 'a placing under' – a foundational idea or proposition laid down as a basis for reasoning or argument, which will then be built upon or tested.

Word relationships

conjecture: A conjecture is an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information, often less formal or testable than a hypothesis.
postulate: A postulate is a fundamental assumption, often taken as true without proof, as a basis for reasoning.

theory: A theory is a well-substantiated explanation, while a hypothesis is a tentative explanation.

Commonly confused with

theory: A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction; a theory is a broad, well-supported explanation for a wide range of phenomena.

Word family

hypothesize (verb): To form a hypothesis.
hypothetical (adjective): Based on a hypothesis; supposed.

Collocations

formulate a hypothesis
test a hypothesis
support a hypothesis
null hypothesis
alternative hypothesis

Example sentences

"Our initial hypothesis was that increased sunlight would lead to faster plant growth, but the experiment showed otherwise." Scientific method
"The research team formulated a clear hypothesis: 'If students use flashcards, then their vocabulary retention will improve significantly.'" Research proposal

Memory hook

Think 'HYPO' (under) and 'THESIS' (an idea). It's an idea 'under' consideration, waiting to be proven or disproven. HYPO-thesis: idea under test

When not to use

Do not use 'hypothesis' interchangeably with 'theory.' A theory is a well-substantiated explanation, while a hypothesis is a tentative explanation.

Fun facts

The scientific method relies heavily on the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
A 'null hypothesis' is a common type of hypothesis in statistics, stating that there is no significant difference between specified populations or samples.