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Synonyms

guesstimate

American  
[ges-tuh-meyt, ges-tuh-mit, -meyt] / ˈgɛs təˌmeɪt, ˈgɛs tə mɪt, -ˌmeɪt /
Or guestimate

verb (used with object)

guesstimated, guesstimating
  1. to estimate without substantial basis in facts or statistics.


noun

  1. an estimate arrived at by guesswork.

guesstimate British  

noun

  1. an estimate calculated mainly or only by guesswork

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to form a guesstimate of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of guesstimate

1935–40, blend of guess and estimate

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.

By my guesstimate, that was legal up until Malcolm was 22?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

Our leading hypothesis is that phages use CtrA to guesstimate when there will be enough bacteria nearby sporting pili and flagella that they can readily infect.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2022

“It was a guesstimate, a very rough guesstimate,” Oathes says.

From Slate • Sep. 13, 2022

One early guesstimate located the heliopause as close as Jupiter.

From Scientific American • Jun. 16, 2022

The libraries closed March 13, and as far as I know there has been no announcement of a guesstimate of the opening of the buildings.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2020

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