Standard Lemma guide

theoretic

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌθiːəˈɹɛtɪk/
  • /ˌθɪə̯ˈɹɛtɪk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Concerned with theories or hypotheses rather than with practical matters.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Existing only in theory, not proven in reality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • theoretical science

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: theoretical

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

English theory + -etic, from Latin theōrēticus, from Ancient Greek θεωρητικός (theōrētikós).

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: نَظَرِيّ (naẓariyy) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Bulgarian: хипотетичен (hipotetičen) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Bulgarian: предполагаем (predpolagaem) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Catalan: teòric — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Finnish: teoreettinen — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • French: théorétique — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • German: theoretisch — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Hebrew: תֵּאוֹרֵטִי (teoreti) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Ido: teoriala — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Japanese: 理論的な (rironteki na) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Occitan: teoretic — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Russian: теорети́ческий (teoretíčeskij) — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Spanish: teórico — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Volapük: teorik — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Volapük: teorodik — concerned with theories or hypotheses
  • Bulgarian: теоретичен (teoretičen) — existing only in theory
  • Catalan: teòric — existing only in theory
  • Finnish: teoreettinen — existing only in theory
  • French: théorique — existing only in theory
  • German: theoretisch — existing only in theory
  • Hebrew: תֵּאוֹרֵטִי (tetoreti) — existing only in theory
  • Japanese: 理論上の (rironjō no) — existing only in theory
  • Occitan: teoric — existing only in theory
  • Polish: teoretyczny — existing only in theory
  • Russian: теорети́ческий (teoretíčeskij) — existing only in theory
  • Spanish: teórico — existing only in theory
  • Volapük: teorik — existing only in theory