of, pertaining to, or consisting in theory; not practical ( distinguished from applied ).

existing only in theory; hypothetical.

given to, forming, or dealing with theories; speculative.

adjective

certain , definite , factual , proven , real

adjective

abstract , academic , analytical , as a premise , assumed , codified , conjectural , contingent , formalistic , formularized , general , ideal , idealized , ideational , ideological , imaginative , impractical , instanced , intellectual , in the abstract , in theory , logical , metaphysical , notional , on paper * , pedantic , philosophical , postulated , presumed , problematical , pure , quixotic , speculative , suppositional , tentative , transcendent , transcendental , unearthly , unproved , unsubstantiated , [[vaguenotes:empirical describes results determined by experiment and observed behavior or facts; theoretical describes results that are based on guesswork or hypothesis - and pragmatic is contrasted with theoretical on the grounds that the former proceeds from what is demonstrably practical]] , the latter from conjecture , hypothetic , hypothetical , theoretic , contemplative , doctrinaire , fictitious , nominal , platonic , postulatory , presumptive , putative , quodlibetic , received , supposititious , unpractical