noun · academic
hypothesis
UK/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/US/haɪˈpɑːθəsɪs/hy·POTH·e·sis
Band 7+task2task1speaking
a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, to be tested by further investigation or experiment
Examples
“The researchers formulated a clear hypothesis before collecting data.”
“The hypothesis that diet affects mood was supported by the trial.”
“A testable hypothesis is essential in experimental design.”
Band 8 sentence
“The authors proposed a novel hypothesis linking urban design to mental well‑being and outlined how it could be empirically tested.”
Collocations
- test a hypothesis
- formulate a hypothesis
- testable hypothesis
Word family
hypothesis nounhypothesize verbhypothetical adj
Common mistakes
a hypothesis→a hypothesis
theory (when meaning hypothesis)→hypothesis
Say it for a higher band
5idea→6theory→7+hypothesis
Synonyms
theory
assumption
Easily confused
theory
“Darwin's theory of evolution transformed biological science.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 3
Learn it with its set