Final answer:
A hypothesis is an educated guess that serves as a tentative explanation for a scientific observation, which can be tested through experiments and observations to confirm its validity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A hypothesis can be defined as an educated guess, which is a tentative or proposed explanation for a phenomenon. It is based on observations and can lead to further investigations through experimentation. In science, a hypothesis is valuable because it is testable: it can be supported or refuted through experiments and observations. For instance, if you hypothesize that plant growth is affected by light, you might predict, "If a plant receives no light, then it will not grow." This prediction stems from the hypothesis and establishes a specific scenario that can be tested.
A hypothesis is not just any guess; it's one that is grounded in knowledge and is informative for setting up experiments. The outcomes of these experiments then can confirm or challenge the hypothesis, potentially leading to its refinement or abandonment. This iterative process is fundamental to the scientific method.