supuesto

Supuesto is a Spanish term that functions as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it means assumed, supposed, or alleged, and it is used to describe something accepted for the sake of argument or based on an unverified claim. It can indicate something claimed or not yet proven, as in el supuesto culpable (the alleged culprit) or la supuesta causa (the supposed cause). As a noun, el supuesto refers to an assumption, premise, or hypothesis that underpins reasoning, an argument, or a plan. In plural, los supuestos are the underlying assumptions or conditions on which a scenario is built.

Origin and related forms: Supuesto derives from the verb suponer (to suppose). The verb itself comes from Latin supponere, from sub- “under” + ponere “to place.” The feminine form is supuesta, and the plural form is supuestos, used according to gender and number.

Usage in different domains: In logic and mathematics, supuesto can denote a premise or hypothesis; in law and journalism, it often signals a claim that has not been proven (supuesto hecho). In business planning, supuestos are the assumed input variables—such as macroeconomic growth, inflation, or demand—that are used to build projections.

See also: suposición, hipótesis, premisa, conjetura.

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