What does Theory mean?

Definitions for Theory
ˈθi ə ri, ˈθɪər ithe·o·ry

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Theory.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. theorynoun

    a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

    "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"

  2. hypothesis, possibility, theorynoun

    a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena

    "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

  3. theorynoun

    a belief that can guide behavior

    "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"

Wiktionary

  1. theorynoun

    Mental conception; reflection, consideration.

  2. theorynoun

    A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.

  3. theorynoun

    The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.

  4. theorynoun

    A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.

    Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.

  5. theorynoun

    A hypothesis or conjecture.

  6. theorynoun

    A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems).

    A theory is consistent if it has a model.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. THEORYnoun

    Speculation; not practice; scheme; plan or system yet subsisting only in the mind.

    Etymology: theorie, Fr. ϑεωρία.

    If they had been themselves to execute their own theory in this church, they would have seen being nearer at hand. Richard Hooker, b. v.

    In making gold, the means hitherto propounded to effect it are in the practice full of errour, and in the theory full of unsound imagination. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist. №. 326.

    Practice alone divides the world into virtuous and vicious; but as to the theory and speculation of virtue and vice, mankind are much the same. Robert South, Sermons.

ChatGPT

  1. theory

    A theory is a well-substantiated explanation or framework that is supported by evidence and reasoning, and seeks to understand and explain a phenomenon or set of phenomena. It is usually based on observations, experiments, and logical reasoning, allowing for predictions and the formation of new knowledge. Theories are often subject to scrutiny, evaluation, and potential modification or revision based on new evidence or findings.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Theorynoun

    a doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation

  2. Theorynoun

    an exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science; as, the theory of music

  3. Theorynoun

    the science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and practice of medicine

  4. Theorynoun

    the philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of moral sentiments

Wikidata

  1. Theory

    Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking. Depending on the context, the results might for example include generalized explanations of how nature works. The word has its roots in ancient Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several different related meanings. A theory is not the same as a hypothesis, as a theory is a 'proven' hypothesis, that, in other words, has never been disproved through experiment, and has a basis in fact. One modern group of meanings emphasizes the speculative and generalizing nature of theory. For example in the arts and philosophy, the term "theoretical" may be used to describe ideas and empirical phenomena which are not easily measurable. And by extension of the philosophical meaning, "theoria" is also a word still used in theological contexts. As already in Aristotle's definitions, theory is very often contrasted to "practice" a Greek term for "doing", which is opposed to theory because pure theory involves no doing apart from itself. A classical example of the distinction between theoretical and practical uses the discipline of medicine: medical theory involves trying to understand the causes and nature of health and sickness, while the practical side of medicine is trying to make people healthy. These two things are related but can be independent, because it is possible to research health and sickness without curing specific patients, and it is possible to cure a patient without knowing how the cure worked.

The New Hacker's Dictionary

  1. theory

    The consensus, idea, plan, story, or set of rules that is currently being used to inform a behavior. This usage is a generalization and (deliberate) abuse of the technical meaning. “What's the theory on fixing this TECO loss?” “What's the theory on dinner tonight?” (“Chinatown, I guess.”) “What's the current theory on letting lusers on during the day?” “The theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known screw....”

Editors Contribution

  1. theory

    A conceptual framework established for a given phenomenon.

    Theory of motivation


    Submitted by anonymous on July 24, 2019  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #724

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1839

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Nouns Frequency: #228

How to pronounce Theory?

How to say Theory in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Theory in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Theory in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of Theory in a Sentence

  1. Christopher Wray:

    We focus on the violence and the federal criminal activity regardless of the inspiration. We understand QAnon to be more of a reference to a complex conspiracy theory or set of complex conspiracy theories, largely promoted online, which has sort of morphed into more of a movement, like a lot of other conspiracy theories, the effects of Covid, anxiety social, social isolation, financial hardship... all exacerbate people's vulnerability to those theories, and we are concerned about the potential that those things can lead to violence, and where it is an inspiration for federal crime, we're going to aggressively pursue it.

  2. The wise Pharoah Moe:

    You urge time when you are expecting your salary, you urge time when you want to meet your beloved, you urge time when you wish to see your children grow up. And when time is urged, you astonishly exclaim! Maybe this is the true theory of relativity..

  3. David Frederick:

    One theory is that in ancestors of humans, orgasm occurred more easily because its function was to cause ovulation to occur. This happens in many animals, once the monthly menstrual cycle began regulating ovulation, orgasm was no longer coupled with reproduction for women. This allowed ability and ease of orgasm becoming more variable in women over millions of years and is why orgasm frequency is much more variable in women than in men.

  4. John Sparr:

    On paper, it is simple to calculate the amount of CO2 emissions a ton of coal will produce and then to calculate the number of trees it takes to consume the CO2, the problem with that theory is that you have to train the CO2 molecules to go to those trees. . . maybe we only burn coal when the wind is blowing in that direction ? And, oh yes, the trees, he said. Are these mature, 40-foot oak trees they are planting, or more likely 16-inch pine seedlings ? Do they realize how long it will take to get a mature forest capable of consuming the CO2 ?

  5. Carl Tobias:

    If Judge Balkman rules in favor of Oklahoma and awards the damages that The State seeks, the case will be historic as the most substantial verdict in this type of litigation, it will also be important because it could be the first case to recognize the nuisance theory in the opioid context.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Theory#1#1649#10000

Translations for Theory

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"Theory." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Theory>.

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