What does hypothesis mean?
Word: Hypothesis
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Hypothesis means an idea that might explain something but has not yet been shown to be true.
Synonyms: guess, idea
How do you spell hypothesis?
Syllables: hy - poth - e - sis
Tricky part: It starts with hy, with a y and not an i. Hipothesis is a very common mistake.
Watch out for: hipothesis, hiypothesis
Memory tip: Draw the y as a forked stick holding up a test tube: every hypothesis needs testing, and its second letter is y.
Hypothesis in a sentence
Example 1: Our hypothesis was that plants grow faster in sunlight than in shade.
Example 2: Nora tested her hypothesis by putting one ice cube in salt water and one in plain water.
Example 3: The experiment showed that the class hypothesis was wrong.
Fun Fact
A good hypothesis must be something an experiment could prove wrong. An idea that no test could ever check does not count as one.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) obzervation
b) hypothesis
c) laboratary
d) experement
Show answer
b) hypothesis. Experiment has an i after the r, laboratory has an o before ry, and observation has an s, not a z.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Before the experiment, each group wrote down its hypothisis about which seed would sprout first.
a) experiment
b) hypothisis
c) group
d) sprout
Show answer
b) hypothisis. The vowel after the th is e: hy-poth-e-sis.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
styoisheph
a) hypothetical
b) hypnosis
c) hysteria
d) hypothesis
Show answer
d) hypothesis. Hypothetical needs a c, an a and an l, hypnosis has an n, and hysteria an r and an a.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
hypothesis
a) apparatus
b) measurement
c) conclusion
d) theory
Show answer
d) theory. A hypothesis is a theory that has still to be tested.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is a hypothesis?
a) What a lovely day it is.
b) Seeds may sprout faster in warm soil.
c) Mateo has a red pencil.
d) Please shut the door.
Show answer
b) Seeds may sprout faster in warm soil.
2. Meena's hypothesis is that bread goes mouldy faster in a warm place. What should she do next?
a) write it as a poem
b) ask for a prize
c) forget about it
d) test it with an experiment
Show answer
d) test it with an experiment
