Dictionary
hy•poth•e•sis
Pronunciation: (hī-poth'u-sis, hi-), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -sesPronunciation: (-sēz"). [key]
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation
(working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
4. a mere assumption or guess.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.