noun

• 1The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

  ‘there has been widespread speculation that he plans to quit’

  More example sentences

  • ‘this is pure speculation on my part’
  • ‘these are only speculations’
  • ‘The Prime Minister's press chief returned from Washington yesterday amid unprecedented speculation he was going to resign.’
  • ‘Into this vacuum of information came the very worst kind of speculation, the most extreme of views.’
  • ‘The profitability of the trade has given rise to speculation that money from wildlife is financing terrorist activities.’
  • ‘In recent months, there has been speculation that the SDLP should merge with Fianna Fáil or Labour.’
  • ‘There has long been speculation that excessive accumulation of starch may impair chloroplast function.’
  • ‘Playing down speculation about his replacement, he said that political intrigue was not new to him.’
  • ‘The pair were engrossed in conversation for more than an hour, fuelling speculation the overworked minister had unwisely opened her heart to a political opponent.’
  • ‘Right now, because we lack good empirical research, we must rely mainly on speculation.’
  • ‘The Chancellor's ninth Budget will inevitably reignite speculation that it could be his last.’
  • ‘His poor health has been a subject of speculation for decades, with experts analyzing his every public appearance.’
  • ‘I would prefer not to engage in speculation about it.’
  • ‘Mr Fletcher dismissed speculation that the strike action could result in the company losing the buses.’
  • ‘There was speculation that the blaze was started by a petrol bomb.’
  • ‘He divides his discussion into what we know and what we don't know, and adds some speculation at the end.’
  • ‘Scientists do not know but there is much speculation about such a scenario.’
  • ‘This added fuel to speculation that Rory knew his killer.’
  • ‘There has been discussion and speculation around whether or not and to what degree there will be a strain on student housing in Waterloo.’
  • ‘Until we know the terms of the deal, it's just idle speculation.’
  • ‘She and Grant have always avoided talking about their relationship, which once appeared to be going so well that there was speculation they would marry.’
  • ‘Her love life has been the focus of constant press speculation.’

  Synonyms

  conjecture, theorizing, hypothesizing, supposition, guesswork

  gamble, venture, risk

  View synonyms

• 2Investment in stocks, property, etc. in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.

  ‘the company's move into property speculation’

  More example sentences

  • ‘he was a millionaire from speculations on the stock market’
  • ‘The fate of European companies may be determined in a split of a second through speculation on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.’
  • ‘Savings must become the driving force behind sound investment, replacing the current mess commanded by financial credit and endemic speculation.’
  • ‘Soon, all of the jobs go to countries that have not yet discovered the ' something for nothing ' world of real estate speculation.’
  • ‘These dollars, borrowed dollars, then go into the U.S. market to add to speculation, financial speculation on the U.S. financial markets.’
  • ‘These derivatives were, instead, a critical aspect of massive leveraged speculation.’
  • ‘He was free to continue his novel banking practices that ignored investment loans in favor of lucrative currency speculation.’
  • ‘You can profit from a short-term investment or speculation that looks risky to others.’
  • ‘First and foremost is the speculation in technology and Internet stocks, which has assumed a spiral-like character.’