WordGarden.iospeculation
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /spˌɛkjʊlˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌspɛkjəˈleɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
reasoning or talk based on incomplete information
risky investment aimed at profiting from price changes
Beyond the definition
Speculation isn't about knowing something for sure - it's about forming theories or making guesses, especially when you don't have all the facts. Think of a detective piecing together clues; those first ideas are speculation until solid evidence appears. It often comes up in finance ("market speculation"), where people try to predict future trends, but it can also refer to guesses about celebrity news, politics, science, or everyday events. A news report might mention speculation around a political scandal, or friends might share speculation about someone's surprise birthday plans.
Imagine you're watching storm clouds gather. You don't know if it will rain, but you might start thinking it probably will. That's at the heart of what "speculation" means: forming a theory or guess without firm evidence. It is the act of thinking about what may be true when the full picture is still unclear.
Speculation can range from harmless guessing to serious analysis. In finance, it often refers to risky buying or selling based on what someone thinks will happen next. A person may buy a stock, a currency, or some other asset hoping the price will rise soon. You will often hear about "market speculation" pushing prices up or down.
However, speculation is not limited to money. It can be any kind of thoughtful guessing. A detective may rely on speculation while trying to solve a crime, considering different motives and possible explanations. News reports often mention "speculation" when the full story has not come out yet, such as rumors about a celebrity relationship or theories about an unsolved mystery.
The key point is that speculation is not based on clear proof; it is an exploration of what might be true. It can be exciting, useful, or completely wrong. So while speculation can sometimes lead to discovery, it should never be confused with certainty.
Examples
- 1
Sudden resignation
There was a lot of speculation about the reason for his sudden resignation.
- 2
Possible outcome
After the meeting was canceled, speculation grew that the deal might fall through.
- Patternspeculation that ...
guesses or rumors that ...
- 3
Weak evidence
For now, any explanation of the crash is just speculation.
- Phrasejust speculation
not based on enough facts yet
- 4
Facts vs guesses
The report tried to separate confirmed facts from speculation.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Property investment
He made a fortune through property speculation in the 2000s.
- Phraseproperty speculation
buying property in the hope of making a profit
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- pure speculation
- wild speculation
- fuel speculation
- speculation about
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- speculationnoun
Forms
- speculationspluralnoun