alternative hypothesis

American  

noun

1. (in the statistical testing of a hypothesis) the hypothesis to be accepted if the null hypothesis is rejected.

---

alternative hypothesis British  

noun

1. statistics the hypothesis that given data do not conform with a given null hypothesis: the null hypothesis is accepted only if its probability exceeds a predetermined significance level Compare hypothesis testing null hypothesis

---

Compare meaning

How does alternative-hypothesis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• null hypothesis vs. alternative hypothesis

Example Sentences

The alternative hypothesis is the contender and must win with significant evidence to overthrow the status quo.

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

We can now set up the null and alternative hypothesis as:

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

The claim will always be in the alternative hypothesis because the burden of proof always lies with the alternative.

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

We want to reject the status quo and substitute our version of the world, the alternative hypothesis.

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

Then and only then would I have the right, so to speak—would I give myself permission, as it were—to consider the alternative hypothesis: I was pardoned.

From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus