conjecture

[ kuhn-jek-cher ]

noun

1. the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof.
2. an opinion or theory so formed or expressed; guess; speculation.

   Synonyms: hypothesis, theory, supposition, inference, surmise

3. Obsolete. the interpretation of signs or omens.

verb (used with object)

, con·jec·tured, con·jec·tur·ing.

1. to conclude or suppose from grounds or evidence insufficient to ensure reliability.

   Synonyms: presume, suppose, surmise

verb (used without object)

, con·jec·tured, con·jec·tur·ing.

1. to form conjectures.

conjecture

/ kənˈdʒɛktʃə /

noun

1. the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence; guess
2. the inference or conclusion so formed
3. obsolete.
   interpretation of occult signs

verb

1. to infer or arrive at (an opinion, conclusion, etc) from incomplete evidence

Derived Forms

• conˈjecturable, adjective
• conˈjecturably, adverb
• conˈjecturer, noun

Other Words From

• con·jectur·a·ble adjective
• con·jectur·a·bly adverb
• con·jectur·er noun
• miscon·jecture verb misconjectured misconjecturing noun
• noncon·jectur·a·ble adjective
• noncon·jectur·a·bly adverb
• precon·jecture verb (used with object) preconjectured preconjecturing
• uncon·jectur·a·ble adjective
• uncon·jectured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conjecture¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the noun) Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin conjectūra “inference, reasoning,” from conject(us) “thrown together” (past participle of conicere, conjicere “to throw together, form a conclusion,” from con- con- + -icere, -jicere, combining form of jacere “to throw”) + -ūra -ure; (for the verb) late Middle English conjecturen, from Middle French, from Late Latin conjecturāre, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conjecture¹

C14: from Latin conjectūra an assembling of facts, from conjicere to throw together, from jacere to throw

Synonym Study

See guess.

Example Sentences

In July, his group reported a set of original conjectures and proofs generated and verified by machines.

From Quanta Magazine

If he and Heule could prove that this rewriting system always terminates, they’d prove that the conjecture is true.

From Quanta Magazine

“The computers said no, so we know the conjecture does hold,” said Heule.

From Quanta Magazine

Bloom and Sisask have only proved the conjecture for evenly spaced triples, not for longer arithmetic progressions, a task that currently seems out of reach.

From Quanta Magazine

Zurek and Verlinde’s approach will only work if our universe is holographic — a conjecture that is far from established.

From Quanta Magazine

Invited to explain how that might be possible, he offered a confused conjecture about how he might have blacked out.

From The Daily Beast

And it is conjecture, based on the sketchy bits of evidence we possess.

From The Daily Beast

After all, the innermost sexual longings of presidents, both living and dead, have long been the stuff of rumor and conjecture.

From The Daily Beast

It is not a conjecture, and so many of these groups it is basically donor capture.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Rove, you make these claims purely as conjecture without any facts, fanned by the emotions of your partisanship.

From The Daily Beast

Conjecture, lost in the mazy distance, gladly lays hold of something substantial in the shape of snuff's first royal patron.

From Project Gutenberg

Another conjecture is, that she was acquainted with some political secrets, and that fear caused her death.

From Project Gutenberg

After this striking confirmation of my conjecture, I think no more need be said.

From Project Gutenberg

I cannot send you the least account or even conjecture of Lords to be created or Commons to be dissolved.

From Project Gutenberg

The circumstance that the system was only used for instrumental music is at least in harmony with this conjecture.

From Project Gutenberg