conjecture

13 synonyms for conjecture, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A guess or opinion formed without solid proof.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

guess suppose

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

speculation hypothesis speculate

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

surmise supposition surmisal theorize theorise hypothesize hypothesise hypothecate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A guess or opinion formed without solid proof.

“It's pure conjecture at this point who will win the leadership race.”

guess suppose speculation hypothesis speculate surmise supposition surmisal theorize theorise hypothesize hypothesise hypothecate

2. verb

To guess or form an opinion without full proof.

“Scientists conjectured that the crater was formed by an ancient asteroid impact.”

hypothesize theorise hypothecate speculate hypothesise theorize suppose

How to use conjecture

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pure conjecture open to conjecture conjecture about

Etymology

From Latin coniectura, "a guess", from conicere, "to throw together" — from con- + iacere ("to throw"), the same root as "eject" and "project".

Full origin of conjecture →

Frequently asked questions

What does “conjecture” mean?

The word “conjecture” means a guess or opinion formed without solid proof. In plain terms, an educated guess, or the act of making one.

How do you pronounce “conjecture”?

“Conjecture” is pronounced kuhn-JEHK-chuh (/kənˈd͡ʒɛk.t͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “conjecture” in a sentence?

Here is “conjecture” used in a sentence: “It's pure conjecture at this point who will win the leadership race.”

What part of speech is “conjecture”?

Depending on how it is used, “conjecture” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “conjecture” come from?

The word “conjecture” comes from Latin. From Latin coniectura, "a guess", from conicere, "to throw together" — from con- + iacere ("to throw"), the same root as "eject" and "project".

Is “conjecture” a common word?

“Conjecture” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “conjecture” have?

“Conjecture” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a guess or opinion formed without solid proof.

Related words

conject conjectural

People also searched

guess suppose speculation hypothesis speculate hypothecate theorize hypothesise theorise hypothesize surmise supposition

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of conjecture