speculative
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning.
a speculative approach.
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theoretical, rather than practical.
speculative conclusions.
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given to speculation, as persons, the mind, etc.
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of the nature of or involving commercial or financial speculation.
speculative ventures.
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engaging in or given to such speculation.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- antispeculative adjective
- antispeculatively adverb
- antispeculativeness noun
- hyperspeculative adjective
- hyperspeculatively adverb
- hyperspeculativeness noun
- nonspeculative adjective
- nonspeculatively adverb
- nonspeculativeness noun
- overspeculative adjective
- overspeculatively adverb
- overspeculativeness noun
- semispeculative adjective
- semispeculatively adverb
- semispeculativeness noun
- speculatively adverb
- speculativeness noun
- unspeculative adjective
Etymology
Origin of speculative
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word speculātīvus. See speculate, -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet they have to correct for a yearslong decline in employer response rates to BLS surveys—which does not negate the data overall, but certainly makes preliminary calculations a bit more unsteady and speculative.
From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026
And rather than the 2026 World Cup, the revenue associated with co-hosting Euro 2028 was deemed to justify the speculative approach.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Bogle almost certainly would’ve despised cryptocurrency ETFs as speculative instruments that produce no cash flow.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
McGibney described the shift as a reset to its core operating model that reduces the need for speculative inventory, lowers exposure to price swings and makes capital deployment more disciplined.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
Perhaps a speculative novel where the main character is an archaeologist digging for bronzes who is then transported to an idyllic past?
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
