noun · academic
hypothesis
UK/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/US/haɪˈpɑːθəsɪs/hy·PO·the·sis
an idea or explanation that you then test through study or experiment
Examples
“The hypothesis predicts that lower temperatures will reduce enzyme activity.”
“We tested the hypothesis using a controlled experiment.”
“Their hypothesis was not supported by the data.”
Band 8 sentence
“The researchers proposed a testable hypothesis linking urban green spaces to measurable improvements in mental health.”
Collocations
- test a hypothesis
- formulate a hypothesis
- support/refute a hypothesis
Word family
Common mistakes
a hypothesises→a hypothesis / hypotheses (plural)
prove the hypothesis→support/refute the hypothesis / provide evidence for the hypothesis
Say it for a higher band
5guess→6assumption→7+hypothesis
Synonyms
assumption
Easily confused
theory
“Einstein's theory of relativity explains many phenomena that simple hypotheses cannot.”
Related words
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In Science & Research
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