speculator

[spek-yuh-ley-ter]

noun

1. a person who is engaged in commercial or financial speculation.

2. a person who makes advance purchases of tickets, as to games or theatrical performances, that are likely to be in demand, for resale later at a higher price.

3. a person who is devoted to mental speculation.

speculator

/ ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a person who speculates

2. rugby an undirected kick of the ball

Word History and Origins

Origin of speculator¹

1545–55; < Latin speculātor explorer, equivalent to speculā ( rī ) to watch over, explore, reconnoiter ( speculate ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

An Australian consortium of mining firms RareX and Iluka Resources announced a bid this year to mine rare earths on the site, and locals say land speculators are flocking to the area.

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A bubble happens when speculators push prices foolishly higher than justified by the cash flow.

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“It’s just going to facilitate a greater redistribution of wealth from retail speculators to proprietary traders.”

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It was not just Chinese holidaymakers and property speculators heading there, but also gamblers - gambling is illegal in China.

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That report details the long and short positions of hedgers and speculators in a variety of futures markets.

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