Academic / B2

hy-POTH-uh-sis/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/

A hypothesis is an idea you can test, not a random guess: our hypothesis was that sleep improves memory. Theory is bigger and more established; a guess has no method. In science you support or reject a hypothesis. The plural is hypotheses. Hypothetical is the adjective for “imagined for the sake of argument.” In class, people still say idea or prediction.

Meaning

An idea that you test to see if it is true.

Examples

• “Our hypothesis was that sleep improves memory.”
• “They designed an experiment to test the hypothesis.”
• “The hypothesis did not survive the second trial.”

Good to know

test/support/reject a hypothesis. Plural: hypotheses. Narrower than theory. Everyday: testable idea.

Near in meaning

theory

Topics

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