working hypothesis

Definitions

1. 1

   A hypothesis that is weakly held, tentatively, as a best guess

   A hypothesis that is weakly held, tentatively, as a best guess; such a hypothesis among several plausible ones that is driving or underpinning a scientific team's work at a given time.

   • Among these several hypotheses, the one judged as most likely was our working hypothesis during the autumn semester.
   • We do not know that this is the case, but it is an hypothesis which cannot be refuted and is simpler than any other possible hypothesis. I shall therefore adopt it as a working hypothesis in what follows.
   • By a process of elimination of the various possibilities we have set up a working hypothesis that the rock-cut installation was for the purpose of making and storing wine.

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