haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs haɪˈpɑː.θə.sɪs

ˌpɑsɪˈbɪliti ˌpɒsɪˈbɪliti ˈθiːəɹi a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices a belief that can guide behavior the architect has a theory that more is less they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses true in fact and theory