>>Mike's reply seems good enough. But see also the definition at www.dictionary.com. Actually, there are several, for example:
>>
>>"A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena."
>>
>>but also:
>>
>>"An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture."
>
>Thanks for the above.
>
>I'd always heard that "theory", as a scientific term rather than a 'folk' expression, was: a viable hypothesis with a preponderance of evidence.
>
>So it is a misnomer to say "it's just a theory" in effort to refute or dismiss the science, agreed?

The reason they say "it's just a theory" is because evolutionists present it as a fact.

The creationists respond that it's not a fact, its just a theory.

So what is fact?

A fact is the same thing as a theory, except the evidence is so solid that no one in the community really places it in doubt.

General Relativity is theory. The general consesus is that its the best theory of gravity out there, but beyond doubt. For one it fails in exlaining the rotation of the galaxy with a mysterious dark matter, and more perplexingly we can't reconcile it with QM or confirm its boldest prediction: the existence of gravitational waves.

Its this sort of doubt that prevents a theory from becoming a fact. Like the theory that the Earth is round. I think today the evidence is so solid that we regard it as a fact.

The evolutionists argue that such doubt doesn't exist in the field of research sourrounding evolution.

The creationists unsurpisingly oppose those specific claims.



>That it "can't be proven" really means that we can't convince are those who do not accept it.

I'm not sure what context "can't be proven" was given in, but I think what "it can't be proven" means is that no scientific theory is ever proven. Ever.

Science simply does not prove theories. It supports theories. And it can disprove theories (prove that it is false) but there has never been a test that has proven any theory true.