adj.
- Of, relating to, or based on theory.
- Restricted to theory; not practical: theoretical physics.
- 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
