Theoretical Meaning
/ˌθɪəˈɹɛtɪkəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical.
Sentence Examples
This meeting is a waste of time. Everybody is just talking in vague theoretical terms.
That shows his theoretical background.
In addition, our experiments are consistent with our theoretical results.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The professor's explanation was purely ____ and lacked any real-world evidence.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The physics student focused on the ____ aspects of the subject rather than the practical experiments today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English theorothycall, probably from Latin theōrēticus + -al, from Ancient Greek θεωρητικός (theōrētikós).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We may look upon this figure as representing in section a theoretical wing-form, or aerofoil"
— 1907, Aerodynamics, constituting the first volume of a complete work on aerial flight, page 163:
"Which makes the concept known as Rods From God the ultimate form of kinetic weaponry. This theoretical weapon would drop telephone pole sized rods of dense tungsten from a satellite in orbit."
— 2025 May 12, Jeff Edwards, “Rods from God: Unleashing Orbital Kinetic Bombardment as a Theoretical Defense System”, in Mira Safety:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The professor's explanation was purely ____ and lacked any real-world evidence.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The physics student focused on the ____ aspects of the subject rather than the practical experiments today.