theoretical

(thē'ə-rĕt'ĭ-kəl) also the·o·ret·ic (-rĕt'ĭk)
adj.

1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.
2. Restricted to theory; not practical: theoretical physics.
3. Given to theorizing; speculative.

[Late Latin theōrēticus, from Greek theōrētikos, from theōrētos, observable, from theōrein, to look at. See theorem.]

theoretically the'o·ret'i·cal·ly adv.

SYNONYMS   theoretical, abstract, academic, hypothetical, speculative. These adjectives mean concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations: theoretical linguistics; abstract reasoning; a purely academic discussion; a hypothetical statement; speculative knowledge.

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adjective

1. Existing only in concept and not in reality: abstract, hypothetic, hypothetical, ideal, theoretic, transcendent, transcendental. See real/imaginary.
2. Concerned primarily with theories rather than practical matters: abstract, academic, speculative, theoretic. See thoughts.

adj

Definition: hypothetical
Antonyms: certain, definite, factual, proven, real

IN BRIEF: Concerned primarily with hypotheses rather than practical considerations.

One of the principal objects of theoretical research in my department of knowledge is to find the point of view from which the subject appears in its greatest simplicity. — Willard Gibbs (1839-1903)

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See words rhyming with "theoretical."

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - teoretisk

Nederlands (Dutch)
theoretisch, hypothetisch

Français (French)
adj. - théorique

Deutsch (German)
adj. - theoretisch, in der Theorie

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - θεωρητικός

Italiano (Italian)
teorico

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - teórico (m), especulativo (m)

Русский (Russian)
теоретический, склонный к теоретизированию

Español (Spanish)
adj. - teórico

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - teoretisk

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
理论上的, 空谈的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 理論上的, 空談的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 이론의, 사색적인 , 가정적인

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 理論の, 理論好きな, 理論上の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) غير عملي, نظري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מופשט, עיוני, משוער, תיאורטי‬

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