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speculative

[ spek-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv ]
/ ˈspɛk yəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv /
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See synonyms for speculative on Thesaurus.com
adjective
pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning: a speculative approach.
theoretical, rather than practical: speculative conclusions.
given to speculation, as persons, the mind, etc.
of the nature of or involving commercial or financial speculation: speculative ventures.
engaging in or given to such speculation.
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Origin of speculative

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word speculātīvus.See speculate, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM speculative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to speculative

analytical, dangerous, experimental, hypothetical, risky, unproved, unproven, unsubstantiated, abstract, assumed, conceptive, dicey, formularized, hairy, hazardous, ideal, idealized, ideological, iffy, intellectual

How to use speculative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for speculative

speculative
/ (ˈspɛkjʊlətɪv) /
adjective
relating to or characterized by speculation, esp financial speculation

Derived forms of speculative

speculatively, adverbspeculativeness, noun
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
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