suppositional
/,sʌpə'ziʃənl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Based on supposition rather than knowledge or proof: Relating to or involving an idea or theory that is assumed to be true without conclusive evidence.
- Hypothetical; conjectural: Used to describe reasoning, arguments, or scenarios that are tentative and not yet confirmed by fact.
Usage
- The adjective "suppositional" is used to qualify nouns that represent ideas, reasoning, or statements. It indicates that the basis for the noun is assumption, not established fact.
- It is a formal term, often used in academic, philosophical, or legal contexts to describe provisional thinking.
Examples
- The entire plan was suppositional, built on guesses about future market trends.
- Her argument, while clever, remained entirely suppositional and lacked empirical support.
- We must move beyond suppositional scenarios and base our policy on hard data.
Advanced Usage
- In Philosophy/Logic: Used to describe a premise that is taken as true for the sake of argument, without asserting its actual truth.
- The philosopher began with a suppositional framework to explore the ethical implications.
- In Legal Contexts: Can describe an allegation or a line of reasoning that is not yet proven.
- The defense criticized the prosecution's case as purely suppositional.
Variants and Related Words
- Supposition (n): An idea or theory that one believes to be true without proof; an assumption.
- His decision was based on the supposition that costs would remain stable.
- Suppositious (adj): Another formal adjective meaning hypothetical or assumed. Often interchangeable with "suppositional."
- The document's authenticity was suppositious at best.
- Suppose (v): To assume something to be true, especially for the sake of argument or as a basis for reasoning.
- Let us suppose for a moment that your theory is correct.
Synonyms
- Hypothetical: Based on a suggested idea or theory rather than fact.
- Conjectural: Based on incomplete information; guesswork.
- Theoretical: Concerned with the theory or hypothesis rather than practical application.
- Speculative: Based on conjecture rather than knowledge.
Antonyms
- Factual: Based on or concerned with facts.
- Certain: Known for sure; established beyond doubt.
- Empirical: Based on observation or experience rather than theory.
- Demonstrable: Clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- On a suppositional basis: Acting or reasoning based on assumptions.
- The project was approved on a suppositional basis, which later proved risky.
- Purely suppositional: Entirely based on guesswork, with no factual foundation.
- The link between the two events is purely suppositional.
Adjective
- based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence
- theories about the extinction of dinosaurs are still highly conjectural
- the supposed reason for his absence
- suppositious reconstructions of dead languages
- hypothetical situation