theory
noun
[ ˈθɪəri ]
• a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
• "Darwin's theory of evolution"
Similar:
hypothesis,
thesis,
conjecture,
supposition,
speculation,
postulation,
postulate,
proposition,
premise,
surmise,
assumption,
presumption,
presupposition,
notion,
guess,
hunch,
feeling,
suspicion,
opinion,
view,
belief,
thinking,
thought(s),
judgement,
contention,
principles,
ideas,
concepts,
principled explanations,
laws,
philosophy,
ideology,
system of ideas,
science,
Origin:
late 16th century (denoting a mental scheme of something to be done): via late Latin from Greek theōria ‘contemplation, speculation’, from theōros ‘spectator’.
in theory
• used in describing what is supposed to happen or be possible, usually with the implication that it does not in fact happen.
• "in theory, things can only get better; in practice, they may well become a lot worse"
Similar:
in principle,
on paper,
in the abstract,
all things being equal,
in an ideal world,
hypothetically,
en principe,
Opposite:
in practice,
in reality,
