Hypothesis definition
Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.
noun
A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
noun
An unproved theory, proposition, supposition, etc. tentatively accepted to explain certain facts or (working hypothesis) to provide a basis for further investigation, argument, etc.
noun
Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.
noun
The definition of a hypothesis is an unproven theory or statement.
An example of hypothesis is the theory of evolution.
noun
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The antecedent of a conditional statement.
noun
A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
noun
The antecedent of a conditional statement.
noun
A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability.
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(sciences) Used loosely, a tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem that can be tested by further observation, investigation and/or experimentation. As a scientific term of art, see the attached quotation. Compare to theory, and quotation given there.
noun
Origin of hypothesis
- Latin subject for a speech from Greek hupothesis proposal, supposition from hupotithenai hupothe- to suppose hupo- hypo- tithenai to place dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Recorded since 1596, from Middle French hypothese, from Late Latin hypothesis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις (hupothesis, “base, basis of an argument, supposition”), literally “a placing under”, itself from ὑποτίθημι (hupotithēmi, “I set before, suggest”), from ὑπό (upo, “below”) + τίθημι (tithēmi, “I put, place”).
From Wiktionary