theory
ˈθiːəri
theories
Definition Synonyms

Definition of theory - Reverso English Dictionary

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Noun

1.
speculationspeculative or conjectural idea
  • He has a theory about alien life.
2.
explanation systemsystem of ideas explaining facts or events, often in science
  • The theory explains how gravity works.
model paradigm
3.
educationgeneral principles of a subject
  • The theory of economics is complex and varied.
doctrine fundamentals
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Expressions with theory

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idea that is considered absurd or nonsensical
His crackpot theory about aliens was laughed at by everyone.
personal theory often unproven
Her pet theory about diet has no scientific backing.
theory that one political event causes similar ones nearby
The domino theory was often cited during the Cold War to justify interventions..
economic idea that benefits for the wealthy trickle down to everyone
The politician argued that trickle-down theory would boost the economy.
completely disprove a theory with strong evidence
The new data blew the theory sky-high.
theoretically possible but not proven in practice
In theory, the plan should work.

Origin of theory

Greek, theōria (contemplation)

Terms with theory included in their meaning

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real-world
based on practice or action, not theory
color theory art
one of three basic colors that make all others
chemical theory
compound that gives hydrogen ions or takes electron pairs, often eats materials
actuality
in reality rather than theory
theory implication
imply an outcome based on a theory or law
argument
statement or theory put forward in an argument
number theory basics
mathematics of numbers using basic operations
theory learning
knowledge learned from reading, not from real-life experience

Examples of theory in a sentence

  • She dismissed the theory as too far-fetched.
  • The theory predicted climate patterns decades in advance.
  • New data challenged the long-standing theory of memory formation.
  • The theory of relativity revolutionized physics.
  • In music, the theory of harmony is fundamental.

View all translations of theory

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:une théorie, théorie, ...
  2. German:Theorie, Erklärungssystem, ...
  3. Italian:teoria, ...
  4. Spanish:teoría, ...
  5. Portuguese:teoria, ...
  6. Chinese:猜想, 理论, ...
  7. Japanese:説, 理論, ...
  8. Arabic:فَرَضِيَّة, نَظَرِيَّة, ...
  9. Hebrew:תֵּיאוֹרְיָה, תֵּאוֹרְיָה, ...
  10. Russian:теория, учение, ...
  11. Ukrainian:теорія, концепція, ...
  12. Hindi:परिकल्पना, सिद्धांत, ...

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