theoretical

the·o·ret·i·cal (th

-r

-k

l) also the·o·ret·ic (-r

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.

2. Restricted to theory; not practical: theoretical physics.

3. Given to theorizing; speculative.

[Late Latin therticus, from Greek thertikos, from thertos, observable, from therein, to look at; see theorem.]

theo·reti·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.

theoretical [ˌθɪəˈrɛtɪk^əl], theoretic

adj

1. of or based on theory

2. lacking practical application or actual existence; hypothetical

3. using or dealing in theory; impractical

theoretically adv

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj.	1.	theoretical - concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; "theoretical science" theoretic empirical, empiric - derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known"
	2.	theoretical - concerned with theories rather than their practical applications; "theoretical physics" applied - concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles; "applied physics"; "applied psychology"; "technical problems in medicine, engineering, economics and other applied disciplines"- Sidney Hook

theoretical

adjective

1. abstract, pure, speculative, ideal, impractical theoretical physics
abstract applied, practical, realistic, factual, experiential

2. hypothetical, academic, notional, unproven, conjectural, postulatory There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.

Translations

theoretical [θɪəˈretɪkəl] ADJ (gen) → teórico

theoretical [ˌθiːəˈrɛtɪk^əl] adj → théorique

theoretical [θɪəˈrɛtɪk/əl] theoretic [θɪəˈrɛtɪk] adj (Science) → teoretico/a; (possibility) → teorico/a

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abstract Abstractive academic applied chi-square test conjectural distribution Divinatory doctrinaire Hypothetic hypothetical M-theory mean sun metaphysical normal distribution notional pure speculative statistical distribution	He could have been whatever he turned his agile intellect and his cunning hand to; he had been a schoolmaster and a watch-maker, and I believe an amateur doctor and irregular lawyer; he talked and wrote brilliantly, and he was one of the group that nightly disposed of every manner of theoretical and practical question at the drug-store; it was quite indifferent to him which side he took; what he enjoyed was the mental exercise. My Literary Passions by Howells,William Dean View in context On the contrary, she was one half of a very happy marriage, and, in a sense, her sufferings at the moment were merely theoretical, if one may so describe the sufferings caused by a theory. The Quest of the Golden Girl by le Gallienne, Richard View in context The necessity of a concurrent jurisdiction in certain cases results from the division of the sovereign power; and the rule that all authorities, of which the States are not explicitly divested in favor of the Union, remain with them in full vigor, is not a theoretical consequence of that division, but is clearly admitted by the whole tenor of the instrument which contains the articles of the proposed Constitution. Federalist Papers Authored by Alexander Hamilton by Hamilton, Alexander View in context	Theophanic theophany Theophilanthropic theophilanthropism Theophilanthropist Theophilanthropy Theophilosophic Theophilus theophobia Theophrastaceae Theophrastus Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim theophylline Theopneusted Theopneustic theopneusty theopsychism Theorbist theorbo theorem Theorem of Pappus Theorematic theorematist Theoremic theoretic theoretical theoretical account theoretical criticism theoretically theoretician theoretics Theoric Theorica Theorical Theorically theorisation theorise theoriser theorist Theorization theorize theorizer theory Theory of chances theory of dissociation theory of electrolytic dissociation Theory of equations theory of everything theory of evolution theory of games theory of gravitation	Theorem of corresponding states Theorem of Desargues Theorem of intersecting chords Theorem of intersecting secants Theorem of lagrange Theorem of Menelaus Theorem of Pappus Theorem of Pappus Theorem on friends and strangers Theorem P Theorem Provers in Circuit Design Theorem Proving in Higher Order Logics Theorem Proving System Theorematic Theorematic Theorematic Theorematic Theorematic Theorematist Theoremic Theorems Theorems Theorems Theorems Theorems theoretic theoretic theoretic theoretic effectiveness theoretic plate number theoretical Theoretical & Applied Mechanics theoretical account Theoretical Advanced Study Institute in Elementary Particle Physics Theoretical Advances Of Art Therapy Theoretical Aerobic Dive Limit theoretical air Theoretical and Applied Climatology Theoretical and Applied Genetics Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Theoretical and applied mechanics Theoretical and Empirical Software Engineering Research Center Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Institute of Theoretical and Formal Aspects of Information Systems Theoretical and Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science Theoretical and Mathematical Physics Theoretical approach Theoretical approach Theoretical approach Theoretical approach Theoretical approach Theoretical Arrival Time Theoretical Aspects of Computer Software Theoretical Aspects of Parallel and Distributed Systems Theoretical Aspects of Rationality and Knowledge Theoretical Aspects of Reasoning About Knowledge Theoretical Aspects of Software Engineering Theoretical Astronomy, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics Center

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abstract
Abstractive
academic
applied
chi-square test
conjectural
distribution
Divinatory
doctrinaire
Hypothetic
hypothetical
M-theory
mean sun
metaphysical
normal distribution
notional
pure
speculative
statistical distribution

He could have been whatever he turned his agile intellect and his cunning hand to; he had been a schoolmaster and a watch-maker, and I believe an amateur doctor and irregular lawyer; he talked and wrote brilliantly, and he was one of the group that nightly disposed of every manner of theoretical and practical question at the drug-store; it was quite indifferent to him which side he took; what he enjoyed was the mental exercise.

My Literary Passions by Howells,William Dean View in context

On the contrary, she was one half of a very happy marriage, and, in a sense, her sufferings at the moment were merely theoretical, if one may so describe the sufferings caused by a theory.

The Quest of the Golden Girl by le Gallienne, Richard View in context

The necessity of a concurrent jurisdiction in certain cases results from the division of the sovereign power; and the rule that all authorities, of which the States are not explicitly divested in favor of the Union, remain with them in full vigor, is not a theoretical consequence of that division, but is clearly admitted by the whole tenor of the instrument which contains the articles of the proposed Constitution.

Federalist Papers Authored by Alexander Hamilton by Hamilton, Alexander View in context

Theorem of corresponding states
Theorem of Desargues
Theorem of intersecting chords
Theorem of intersecting secants
Theorem of lagrange
Theorem of Menelaus
Theorem of Pappus
Theorem of Pappus
Theorem on friends and strangers
Theorem P
Theorem Provers in Circuit Design
Theorem Proving in Higher Order Logics
Theorem Proving System
Theorematic
Theorematic
Theorematic
Theorematic
Theorematic
Theorematist
Theoremic
Theorems
Theorems
Theorems
Theorems
Theorems
theoretic
theoretic
theoretic
theoretic effectiveness
theoretic plate number

theoretical

Theoretical & Applied Mechanics
theoretical account
Theoretical Advanced Study Institute in Elementary Particle Physics
Theoretical Advances Of Art Therapy
Theoretical Aerobic Dive Limit
theoretical air
Theoretical and Applied Climatology
Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Theoretical and Applied Linguistics
Theoretical and applied mechanics
Theoretical and Empirical Software Engineering Research Center
Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Institute of
Theoretical and Formal Aspects of Information Systems
Theoretical and Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
Theoretical approach
Theoretical approach
Theoretical approach
Theoretical approach
Theoretical approach
Theoretical Arrival Time
Theoretical Aspects of Computer Software
Theoretical Aspects of Parallel and Distributed Systems
Theoretical Aspects of Rationality and Knowledge
Theoretical Aspects of Reasoning About Knowledge
Theoretical Aspects of Software Engineering
Theoretical Astronomy, Institute of
Theoretical Astrophysics Center

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theoretical