Hypothetische

Hypothetische is a German adjective meaning “hypothetical” or “relating to a hypothesis.” It is used to describe ideas, situations, or statements that are not known to be true but are proposed for the sake of argument, analysis, or planning. In everyday language it can characterize imagined or contingent conditions, as in hypothetische Fragen, hypothetische Szenarien, or hypothetische Überlegungen. In scientific, philosophical, or legal contexts it often introduces assumptions that underpin models, arguments, or risk assessments rather than established facts.

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from Greek hypóthesis, via Latin and French into German. The base adjective is hypothetisch; its inflected forms include hypothetische (feminine singular or plural) and hypothetisches (neuter singular). Predicatively, one would normally use hypothetisch (das ist hypothetisch).

Usage notes and examples: The term frequently appears in academic and policy writing, where hypothetical scenarios help evaluate outcomes or test arguments. Common collocations include hypothetische Frage, hypothetische Annahme, hypothetisches Modell, and hypothetische Situation. The related noun is Hypothese, meaning a proposition that can be tested or investigated.

See also: Hypothese, hypothetisch, Hypothese as a general concept in science and philosophy. Hypothetische describes content or conditions imagined for analysis, while a Hypothese is a proposed explanation awaiting empirical validation.