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speculation

speculation

288 4.8
A guess or idea made without enough proof
  • noun
  • /ˌspɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/
translation icon : conjetura
  • After the meeting, rumors began to circulate, leading to speculation about potential changes in management.
  • mere speculation
  • lead to speculation
  • invite speculation

And it's to the point where this isn't speculation, this is fact.

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Examples

  • I mean, you know, you've been the topic of a lot of conversation and speculation around here.

  • There had been rumor and speculation, but when he arrived, all was different.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • And there has been speculation about that.

  • It's only speculation, but it's seems to make sense.

  • There is speculation here and elsewhere as to...

  • However, there has long been speculation that the royal family is divided over the nuclear issue.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Senior pentagon officials refused comment, adding fuel to the speculation... that there could be a very serious problem.

  • 'This has given rise to speculation about possible repercussions.

  • It's just speculation at this point, Bosley.

  • But the airwaves were full of speculation that al-Qaeda, or groups closely linked to it, were responsible.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

guess
vsspeculation
768 1.0

An answer or opinion made without enough information

is a more general idea or theory not supported by full evidence
assumption
vsspeculation
513 3.5

A belief people accept as true without proof

is a less committed idea or tentative theory rather than an accepted fact
hunch
vsspeculation
159 4.7

A guess based on a feeling rather than facts

is a general idea or theory based on thought and evidence, not feeling
hypothesis
vsspeculation
138 6.1

An idea that may explain something but is not yet proven

is a broader idea or guess used in general, not only for testing
conjecture
vsspeculation
43 7.8

An opinion formed without enough proof, like a guess

is a broader idea or theory lacking complete evidence rather than only opinion
supposition
vsspeculation
23 7.3

An idea that people accept as true without proof

is a more open-ended idea or guess rather than an assumed truth
surmise
vsspeculation
3 7.9

An idea based on little evidence

is a wider idea or theory not limited to small clues or hints
postulation
vsspeculation
  • Specialized
1 9.3

An idea people accept without proof and use to build an argument

is a more general idea or guess rather than a formal assumed basis
surmisal
vsspeculation
9.8

A guess without enough facts

is a broader idea or theory lacking full evidence rather than a simple guess

Antonyms

1.0

Something that can be shown to be true, not an opinion

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4

A strong feeling that something is true or will happen

How Certain

conclusion
632 1.6
theory
3.2
hypothesis
138 6.1
speculation
288 4.8
guess
768 1.0

Surface Forms

speculation singular
speculations plural

Morphology

speculation = speculate (transparent) = speculate + ion

A straightforward nominalization from the verb 'speculate' yielding the sense 'an idea or guess' which learners can derive.

Etymology

Speculation comes from the Latin root spec- meaning 'to look', the same root you see in inspect. A helpful image is someone 'looking' at a few facts and then guessing beyond them, so speculation means an idea or guess without full evidence.