Final answer:
The word closest in meaning to 'hypothesis' is 'suggestion', as both imply an idea that is yet to be proven and is open for consideration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question which asks, "Which of the following words is closest to the same meaning as hypothesis?", aims to find a synonym or a word closely related in meaning to 'hypothesis'. A hypothesis is an educated guess or a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that is yet to be proven. Therefore, the closest option to hypothesis is 'suggestion'. This is because a suggestion, like a hypothesis, implies an idea put forward for consideration, which may or may not be true, similar to how a hypothesis is a tentative explanation that needs to be tested. The other options, such as 'fact', 'law', 'formula', and 'conclusion', all suggest a level of certainty or finality that is not intrinsic to a hypothesis.