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Biology vocabulary · Experiments and Research Methods

Hypothesis

Meaning in biology, with examples

/haɪˈpɑːθəsɪs/nounCore term

In biology, hypothesis means: A possible explanation or prediction that can be tested by an experiment or observation. Scientists design studies to support or reject it.

In Turkish: hipotez, varsayım

How it is used

The plural is hypotheses (/haɪˈpɑːθəsiːz/). Researchers propose, test, support or reject a hypothesis, and a good one is testable and falsifiable. In statistics, the null hypothesis states that there is no effect or difference.

Example sentences

  1. Our hypothesis is that higher temperatures will increase the growth rate of the algae.

  2. The results did not support the original hypothesis.

Common collocations

  • test a hypothesis
  • null hypothesis
  • support a hypothesis
  • reject a hypothesis
  • working hypothesis
  • control groupThe group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment being tested, so that its results can be compared with those of the treated group.
  • variableAny factor that can change in an experiment, such as temperature, light or time. Scientists change one variable and measure its effect on another.
  • replicateOne of several repeats of the same measurement or experiment, done to check that the results are reliable. As a verb, it means to repeat an experiment or, for DNA and viruses, to copy itself.
  • in vitroDone outside a living organism, for example in a test tube, a petri dish or a cell culture. The Latin phrase literally means 'in glass'.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Experiments and Research Methods

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