five-minute hypothesis

noun

The skeptical hypothesis that the world came into existence, with all apparent signs of history and the past fully-formed, only five minutes ago.

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Meanings

nounfive-minute hypothesis (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe skeptical hypothesis that the world came into existence, with all apparent signs of history and the past fully-formed, only five minutes ago.

Origin

Initially conceived, and likely coined by Bertrand Russell.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Japanese 世界５分前仮設
  • 世界５分前仮設 (sekai gofun mae kasetsu)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

five-minute hypothesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/five-minute%20hypothesis

MLA

“five-minute hypothesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/five-minute%20hypothesis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “five-minute hypothesis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/five-minute%20hypothesis.

Source: five-minute hypothesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.