Skip to main content
speculation

speculation

288 4.8
A guess or idea made without enough proof
  • noun
  • /ˌspɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/
: 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.

Autoplay Next

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.