What is the term for an educated guess based on prior knowledge?

The term "hypothesis" refers to an educated guess based on prior knowledge and understanding of a subject. In scientific inquiry, a hypothesis is formulated to provide a tentative explanation for a phenomenon or to predict the outcome of an experiment based on existing information. It serves as a starting point for investigation, guiding researchers in designing experiments to test the validity of their assumptions.

A hypothesis is distinct from a theory and a prediction. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation that incorporates a body of evidence and has withstood rigorous testing over time, while a prediction is a specific forecast about the outcome of a particular experiment based on the hypothesis. Inference, on the other hand, involves drawing conclusions from observations rather than making predictions based on prior knowledge, which highlights the unique role of a hypothesis in the scientific method.