speculation
Americannoun
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the contemplation or consideration of some subject.
to engage in speculation on humanity's ultimate destiny.
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a single instance or process of consideration.
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a conclusion or opinion reached by such contemplation.
These speculations are impossible to verify.
- Synonyms:
- hypothesis, theory, view, supposition
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conjectural consideration of a matter; conjecture or surmise.
a report based on speculation rather than facts.
-
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.
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a speculative commercial venture or undertaking.
noun
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the act or an instance of speculating
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a supposition, theory, or opinion arrived at through speculating
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investment involving high risk but also the possibility of high profits
Other Word Forms
- antispeculation noun
- nonspeculation noun
- overspeculation noun
- prespeculation noun
- semispeculation noun
Etymology
Origin of speculation
1325–75; Middle English speculacioun < Late Latin speculātiōn- (stem of speculātiō ) exploration, observation. See speculate, -ion
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.
That possibility has fueled decades of speculation about whether Europa could host life, placing it among the most important targets for exploration in the solar system.
From Science Daily
“Keep in mind that this is an investigation that is also in its infancy. So any speculation about what has happened would be just that,” Jacobson told reporters.
From Los Angeles Times
Tisdale French, meanwhile, apparently anticipated this kind of speculation in reaction to the New York essay because she had experienced it after blogging about the same topic.
From Los Angeles Times
With all but one player left scratching their heads, speculation has been soaring among eagle‑eyed viewers - with some heads turning to Welsh contestant Fiona.
From BBC
Tomlin spent the better part of the month engulfed in speculation as to whether or not he and Pittsburgh were ready to part company.
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.
