supposition
Tentative working theory
A supposition is something assumed to be true for the sake of argument or investigation, without proof that it actually is.
It carries more tentativeness than assumption—a supposition is explicitly provisional: On the supposition that he's telling the truth, we should act now.
The verb is suppose.
Unproven theorizing or risky investment
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
educated guess · shot in the dark · stab in the dark · guesstimate · ballpark estimate · intuition · inkling · suspicion
Foundation for logical argument
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- givenAccepted as fact
- starting pointPlace of commencement
baseline · precondition · taken-for-granted · preconception · predisposition · accepted truth
Explanatory set of principles
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- postulateAssumed starting point
- working theoryUnproven but useful assumption
theoretical framework · model · conjecture · research question
Firmly held belief
- opinionSubjective personal belief
- viewpointWay of seeing things
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- positionLocation or stance
perspective · notion · judgment · credence · trust · faith · confidence · persuasion
Conclusion from premises
- inductionFormal admission process
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
implication · derivation · corollary · logical inference · interpretation · reading · construal
Forecast of coming events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- prognosticationForetelling future events
- anticipationState of awaiting something
hypothetical · thought experiment · futurism · flight of fancy · blue-sky thinking
speculation
Unproven theorizing or risky investment
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- hunchUnproven inner sense
theorizing · educated guess · shot in the dark · stab in the dark · guesstimate · ballpark estimate · intuition · inkling · suspicion · notion
premise
Foundation for logical argument
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- givenAccepted as fact
starting point · baseline · precondition · taken-for-granted · preconception · predisposition · accepted truth
theory
Explanatory set of principles
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- postulateAssumed starting point
working theory · theoretical framework · model · conjecture · research question
conviction
Firmly held belief
position · perspective · notion · judgment · credence · trust · faith · confidence · persuasion · mindset
deduction
Conclusion from premises
- inductionFormal admission process
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- conclusionEnd or deduction
extrapolation · implication · derivation · corollary · logical inference · interpretation · reading · construal
prediction
Forecast of coming events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- prognosticationForetelling future events
anticipation · hypothetical · thought experiment · futurism · flight of fancy · blue-sky thinking
- guessesguess, conjecture, speculation, surmise, guesswork
- guessworkguesswork, educated guess, educated guesses, conjecture, speculation
- speculationconjecture, guess, guessing, speculation, hypothesis
- what-ifswhat if, hypothetical, thought experiment, speculation, conjecture
- hypotheseshypothesis, conjecture, postulate, assumption, premise
- theorizinghypothesis, theory, conjecture, postulate, postulation
suppositionproof
Demonstration of truth
evidence · demonstration · verification · hard evidence · empirical evidence