conjecture

American  

[kuhn-jek-cher] / kənˈdʒɛk tʃər /

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.

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verb (used with object)

conjectured, conjecturing

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

   Synonyms:

   presume , suppose , surmise

verb (used without object)

conjectured, conjecturing

1. to form conjectures.

conjecture British  

/ kənˈdʒɛktʃə /

noun

1. the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence; guess

2. the inference or conclusion so formed

3. obsolete  interpretation of occult signs

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verb

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

Related Words

See guess.

Other Word Forms

• conjecturable adjective
• conjecturably adverb
• conjecturer noun
• misconjecture verb
• nonconjecturable adjective
• nonconjecturably adverb
• preconjecture verb (used with object)
• unconjecturable adjective
• unconjectured adjective

Etymology

Origin of conjecture

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

Example Sentences

Nearly everything else ever written about the family is conjecture spun from the scraps of information that exist, such as Shakespeare’s will leaving nothing to his wife other than “his second-best bed.”

From Los Angeles Times

“This could all be conjecture, it could all be a coincidence. That’s the wonder of sports betting. Sometimes weird things happen.”

From Washington Times

The only life we’ve encountered is on our own planet, and thus all our conjectures about life elsewhere are by definition fiction.

From Washington Post

Cleveland’s early elimination, plus the team’s history of rash moves, triggered conjecture about a coaching switch.

From Washington Times

He proposed the chronology protection conjecture: The universe doesn’t allow time travel because it doesn’t allow alterations to the past.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• guesswork
• hunch
• hypothesis
• inference
• supposition