speculation

The word “speculation” means a guess or theory formed without firm evidence. In plain terms, guessing without proof, or making risky trades hoping the price will move in your favor.

“Speculation” is pronounced spehk-yuh-LAY-shuhn (/ˌspɛk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “speculation” used in a sentence: “There has been a lot of speculation about who will be the next CEO.”

“Speculation” is a noun.

The word “speculation” comes from Late Latin. From Old French speculation, from Late Latin speculātiō, from Latin speculor ("to observe, spy out").

“Speculation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Speculation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a guess or theory formed without firm evidence.

In finance, speculation is the practice of buying or trading something risky in the hope of profiting from price changes, often over a short period. Investment generally refers to putting money into assets with the expectation of steadier, longer-term returns; the key difference is the level of risk and the reliance on price swings rather than underlying value.

Speculation is a guess or theory formed without firm evidence, and it may never be tested. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that is deliberately framed so it can be tested against evidence, which gives it a more formal, scientific status.

A rumour is an unverified story or claim that spreads from person to person. Speculation is the act of forming guesses or theories without firm evidence; rumours often start as someone's speculation, but a rumour is the circulating claim itself rather than the guessing.