(~s)
1.
A ~ is an idea or statement which someone believes or assumes to be true, although they may have no evidence for it. (FORMAL)
There’s a popular ~ that we’re publicly funded but the bulk of our money comes from competitive contracts...
= assumption
N-COUNT: oft N that
2.
You can describe someone’s ideas or statements as ~ if you disapprove of the fact that they have no evidence to support them.
The report has been rejected by the authorities, who said much of it was based on ~ or inaccuracy.
N-UNCOUNT disapproval