Meanings
comparative more theoretical · superlative most theoretical
- Of or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical.
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 1631 more example
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 SafetyAntonyms: practical
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveOf or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveconcerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations
adjectiveconcerned with theories rather than their practical applications
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latintheōrēticus
- Middle Englishtheorothycall
- Englishtheoretical
From Middle English theorothycall, probably from Latin theōrēticus + -al, from Ancient Greek θεωρητικός (theōrētikós).
More words from Middle English, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic نَظَرِيّ
- نَظَرِيّ (naẓariyy)of or relating to theory
Catalan teòric
- teòricof or relating to theory
Chinese Mandarin 理論 /理论
- 理論 /理论 (lǐlùn)of or relating to theory
Czech teoretický
- teoretickýof or relating to theory
Danish teoretisk
- teoretiskof or relating to theory
Dutch theoretisch
- theoretischof or relating to theory
Esperanto teoria
- teoriaof or relating to theory
Estonian teoreetiline
- teoreetilineof or relating to theory
Finnish teoreettinen
- teoreettinenof or relating to theory
French théorique
- théoriqueof or relating to theory
German theoretisch
- theoretischof or relating to theory
Greek θεωρητικός
- θεωρητικός (theoritikós)of or relating to theory
Hindi इल्मी, सैद्धांतिक
- इल्मी (ilmī)of or relating to theory
- सैद्धांतिक (saiddhāntik)of or relating to theory
- सैद्धान्तिक (saiddhāntik)of or relating to theory
Hungarian elméleti
- elméletiof or relating to theory
Indonesian teoretis
- teoretisof or relating to theory
Irish teoiriciúil
- teoiriciúilof or relating to theory
Italian teorico
- teoricoof or relating to theory
Japanese 理論的な
- 理論的な (rironteki na)of or relating to theory
Latin doctrīnālis
- doctrīnālisof or relating to theory
Latvian teorētisks
- teorētisksof or relating to theory
Norwegian Bokmål teoretisk
- teoretiskof or relating to theory
Persian تئوریک
- تئوریک (te'orik)of or relating to theory
Polish teoretyczny
- teoretycznyof or relating to theory
Portuguese teórico
- teóricoof or relating to theory
Romanian teoretic, teoric
- teoreticof or relating to theory
- teoricof or relating to theory
Russian теорети́ческий, академи́чный
- теорети́ческий (teoretíčeskij)of or relating to theory
- академи́чный (akademíčnyj)of or relating to theory
Spanish teórico
- teóricoof or relating to theory
Swedish teoretisk
- teoretiskof or relating to theory
Turkish teorik, kuramsal
- teorikof or relating to theory
- kuramsalof or relating to theory
Ukrainian теорети́чний
- теорети́чний (teoretýčnyj)of or relating to theory
Urdu علمی
- علمیof or relating to theory
Cite this entry
theoretical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical
“theoretical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “theoretical,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical.
Source: theoretical on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.