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

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.2 / 10 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.2 / 9 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:4.2 / 6 votes

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

WikidataRate this definition:2.4 / 5 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

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 ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. theory

   A conceptual framework established for a given phenomenon.

   Theory of motivation

   
   

   Submitted by anonymous on July 24, 2019  

Matched Categories

1. • Belief
   • Explanation

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

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce theory?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Margaret Oliphant Oliphant:

   The incomprehensibleness of women is an old theory, but what is that to the curious wondering observation with which wives, mothers, and sisters watch the other unreasoning animal in those moments when he has snatched the reins out of their hands, and is not to be spoken to! . It is best to let him come to, and feel his own helplessness.

2. Danny Cevallos:

   The grand jury ultimately decides whether to indict, but it's 100% the prosecution's show. ... The prosecutor could, in theory, make less of an effort if he doesn't want someone indicted.

3. Klas Bergling:

   Our theory is not that he planned this suicide -- more that it was like a traffic accident, many things happened and came into the same station, so to say, and brought him out of his control.

4. Jeffrey Grybowski:

   Our belief is once Block Island is up and running, it will bring offshore wind from theory to reality in the United States and open up opportunities to build larger projects.

5. Adam Kinzinger:

   What Ido know is that whether or not the president was briefed, frankly, is irrelevant because the intelligence agencies could not yet agree on this, if this is something, you need to have large agreement or at least [agreement] to a point of significant confidence to be able to take action.Otherwise, in theory, if its not true and youre reacting against the Russians, think of the damage of that.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=theory
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Theory
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=theory
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theory
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=theory
7. ^ The New Hacker's Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3008/3008-h/3008-h.htm#Theory
8. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=theory