speculation

American  

[spek-yuh-lay-shuhn] / ˌspɛk jəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

• speculations
  plural

1. 

   the contemplation or consideration of some subject.

   to engage in speculation on humanity's ultimate destiny.

2. a single instance or process of consideration.

3. a conclusion or opinion reached by such contemplation.

   These speculations are impossible to verify.

   Synonyms:

   hypothesis, theory, view, supposition

4. conjectural consideration of a matter; conjecture or surmise.

   a report based on speculation rather than facts.

5. engagement in business transactions involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large gains, especially trading in commodities, stocks, etc., in the hope of profit from changes in the market price.

6. a speculative commercial venture or undertaking.

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speculation British  

/ ˌspɛkjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of speculating

2. a supposition, theory, or opinion arrived at through speculating

3. investment involving high risk but also the possibility of high profits

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antispeculation
  noun
• nonspeculation
  noun
• overspeculation
  noun
• prespeculation
  noun
• semispeculation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• speculations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of speculation

1325–75; Middle English speculacioun < Late Latin speculātiōn- (stem of speculātiō ) exploration, observation. See speculate, -ion

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Explanation

When you guess about how something is going to come out (or how it happened), that's speculation. You're making an educated guess. When people predict who will win a football game, an Oscar, or an election, it's speculation: people are looking at the facts and making their best guess. Just about anything you say about the future is speculation, because no one knows what will happen. The word is used in the stock market for such financial dealings as "buying on spec," a risky way to make money. Sometimes, this word means something close to meditation — pondering something deeply.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

speculation speculations

There was also speculation that Jackson’s death was linked to an organized crime group, but there hasn’t been any evidence so far to support that, he added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

“At this juncture,” he said, “I will respectfully refrain from engaging in speculation as to the prosecution’s reasons or motives for their decision to dismiss the felony case against Mr. Lopez.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

If there is a new attempt at mediation – and there is some speculation about this - they may drive a hard bargain.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Starbucks said it would not bid for Chipotle, following speculation about a possible deal, pushing its shares up 1.7%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

“My speculation is the propellant collapsed,” Quentin said.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Asked about the situation on Monday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters to "rely on Rospotrebnadzor's official statements rather than... rumours and speculations".

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

The paper notes that Tehran has "categorically" rejected and strongly condemned the "malicious speculations", but adds that the exact nature of what happened near Fairford "remains unclear".

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Extraterrestrial cosmologies descend from the philosophically Protestant speculations of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine, each of whom posited a plurality of worlds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

According to Page Six, the speculations about the romance caused a “feud” between Batula and Miller, who were particularly close in Season 10 of “Summer House.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

And Pomp, hearing of change, mentioned his experiments in the fluctuation of swamp-water in ditches, which he hath conducted in his idleness, but which speculations would do honor to one of our academicians.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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Related Words

• belief
• conjecture
• opinion
• thought

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