in theory

according to a theory; theoretically. In theory, if I take my medicine regularly, I will get well. How things work in theory doesn't always match with how things work in reality.

in theory

possibly They could, in theory, have been paid twice if someone hadn't caught the error.

Opposite of: in practice Related vocabulary: in principle

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Kaori	kah-o-ṙee	Japanese
Anke	AHN-kə	Low German, Dutch
Dardan	-	Albanian
Strong	[strɔŋ]
Milodrag	-	Medieval Slavic (Hypothetical)
Nicholas	NIK-ə-ləs (English), nee-ko-LAH (French)	English, French