Synonyms for hypothesis

theory, supposition, surmise, speculation, scheme, system, conjecture, prediction, assumption, presumption, condition, suggestion, thesis, proposal, working hypothesis, preliminary layout, tentative plans, basis for discussion, apriority, law, inference, antecedent, reason, position, assignment, starting point, basis, derivation, philosopheme, ground, term, scheme, belief, foundation, postulate, axiom, presupposition, premise, data, attribution, interpretation, deduction, demonstration, tentative law, principle, lemma, explanation, theorem, rationale, philosophy, shot in the dark*, guess-so*, clotheshorse*; see also guess, opinion 1, theory 1. See syn. study at theory.