speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv 
-ˌlā-
1
: involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation
also
: theoretical rather than demonstrable
speculative knowledge
2
: marked by questioning curiosity
gave him a speculative glance
3
: of, relating to, or being a financial speculation
speculative stocks
speculative venture
speculatively
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of speculative in a Sentence
His conclusions are highly speculative.
a writer with a speculative mind
a speculative boom in housing construction
Recent Examples on the Web
Or does its unlikely real-world utility qualify it as an art project, meant to exist mostly in the realm of the speculative, or of aspirational ideals?
—
Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025
The meltdown of the office market in the years after the coronavirus outbreak, however, rendered a speculative office development unfeasible.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
All allegations that the 2024 election was rigged are speculative, and there are no investigations examining the claims.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for speculative 
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Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025
The meltdown of the office market in the years after the coronavirus outbreak, however, rendered a speculative office development unfeasible.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
All allegations that the 2024 election was rigged are speculative, and there are no investigations examining the claims.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for speculative
Dictionary Entries Near speculative
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speculative. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspek-yə-lət-iv
-ˌlāt-
1
a
: of or relating to mental speculation
speculative knowledge
b
: curious sense 1
a speculative glance
2
: of or relating to financial speculation
speculatively
adverb
Legal Definition
speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv, -ˌlā-
1
: involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation
also
: theoretical rather than demonstrable
speculative medical testimony concerning the cause of death
2
: of, relating to, or being a financial speculation
speculative securities
speculative home building
speculatively
adverb
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