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
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antispeculativenessnoun
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hyperspeculativenessnoun
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nonspeculativenessnoun
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overspeculativenessnoun
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semispeculativenessnoun
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speculativenessnoun
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antispeculativeadjective
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hyperspeculativeadjective
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nonspeculativeadjective
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overspeculativeadjective
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semispeculativeadjective
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unspeculativeadjective
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antispeculativelyadverb
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hyperspeculativelyadverb
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nonspeculativelyadverb
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overspeculativelyadverb
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semispeculativelyadverb
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speculativelyadverb
Etymology
Origin of speculative
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word speculātīvus. See speculate, -ive
Explanation
Speculative describes very risky and unproven ideas or chances. You might have great ideas about starting your own business but your plans are speculative until you earn money from them. Speculative describes abstract ideas — usually with high risk — that often come with excitement and expectation too. A speculative investment could mean putting lots of cash into a business or real estate property hoping it will make money later. Anything speculative is based on prediction: whatever it is hasn't happened yet.
Vocabulary lists containing speculative
Grade 9, List 1
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act V
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And Then There Were None
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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.
Vishnu Varathan, managing director at Mizuho Securities Singapore, said the new foreign exchange risk reserve makes it “prohibitively expensive to mount a speculative attack on the rupee.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Earlier that morning, Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei published a flattering bulletin placing Schmitt atop the speculative short list to be Vice President JD Vance’s 2028 running mate, quoting admirers of the senator.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
Many investors were also swept up in the speculative frenzy that drove gold to fresh record highs last year and at the start of 2026, he noted.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
“Ghost tickets,” also known as speculative tickets, are concert and sports tickets that resellers list before they actually have them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
“Jack wasn’t at work today,” my dad said in this slow, speculative sort of tone.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
