hypothesis
/-əsəs/3 senses across 1 part of speech
noun
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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.
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(general) An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation.
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(grammar) The antecedent of a conditional statement.