hypothesis

Universal Words 1 [C] an idea or explanation of sth that is based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved to be true or correct: to formulate / confirm a hypothesis * a hypothesis about the function of dreams * There is little evidence to support these hypotheses. 2 [U] guesses and ideas that are not based on certain knowledge SYNSPECULATION: It would be pointless to engage in hypothesis before we have the facts.