speculator

American  

[spek-yuh-ley-ter] / ˈspɛk yəˌleɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who is engaged in commercial or financial speculation.

2. a person who makes advance purchases of tickets, as to games or theatrical performances, that are likely to be in demand, for resale later at a higher price.

3. a person who is devoted to mental speculation.

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speculator British  

/ ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a person who speculates

2. rugby an undirected kick of the ball

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Etymology

Origin of speculator

1545–55; < Latin speculātor explorer, equivalent to speculā ( rī ) to watch over, explore, reconnoiter ( speculate ) + -tor -tor

Explanation

A speculator is someone who takes a chance on losing a lot of money when there's a prospect of making even more money. A speculator might, for example, invest in a risky stock in the hopes she can sell it eventually at a profit. In a way, everyone who invests in the financial market is a bit of a speculator — the possibility of losing money is always there, as is a chance (and hope) of making money. Gamblers are speculators too, hoping to win big but vulnerable to losing everything on a poker game. Less commonly, a speculator is simply someone who speculates, or guesses without enough information. The financial meaning dates from the 18th century.

Example Sentences

Duer was also an inveterate speculator and get-rich-quick schemer: “king of the alley,” as Thomas Jefferson derisively referred External link to Wall Street.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

Further near-term price gains are also likely, with speculator long positions as a share of total open interest on CME are not as extreme as in previous speculative peaks, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Next came Highway 80 and speculator Bert Vaughn, who built a four-story hotel, bathhouse and a desert view tower to lure San Diego-Arizona drivers off the road.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

Fisk, a Wall Street speculator, was fabulously wealthy.

From Slate • Dec. 28, 2023

But one day a speculator came by—you know what a speculator was?”

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers