Scientists use the word theory to mean a hypothesis that has been supported by many experiments; this is the same way non-scientists use the word theory.

Scientists use the word theory to mean a hypothesis that has not been tested many times; this is the same way non-scientists use the word theory.

Scientists use the word theory to explain many observations supported by a large body of evidence; non-scientists use the word theory to state a guess.

Scientists use the word theory in the same way that they use the word hypothesis; both mean a general idea that remains to be well tested.