Definition

The act of forming ideas or theories about something without firm evidence; often involves guessing or making assumptions.

Example

The stock market is often influenced by speculation about future economic conditions.

Conversation

Have you heard the latest speculation about the new movie coming out?

Yeah, I heard people are guessing it might be a sequel!

I wonder if there's any truth to that speculation or if it's just rumors.

Who knows? Sometimes it's just fun to think about the possibilities.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Speculation → It is formed from "specere" (meaning to look or see) and the suffix "-tion" (indicating the action or process). The word "speculation" refers to the act of looking or considering possibilities, often in the context of forming theories or guesses without firm evidence.

Memory Tip

Think of 'looking' ('specere') at different possibilities or ideas — that's what speculation means.

Visually Confused Words