speculationspec‧u‧la‧tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
There is speculation that the president is ill.speculation about/on speculation about the future The witness’s statement was pure speculation (=not based on any knowledge).wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true)2when you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them: property speculationCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculationpure/mere speculation (=not based on any knowledge)· A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.wild/idle speculation (=unlikely to be true)· Such fears are wild speculation.intense speculation· The reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.widespread speculation· There was widespread speculation about his political plans.renewed speculation· The move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.press/media speculation· She appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.verbslead to/prompt/give rise to speculation (=result in it)· This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.fuel speculation (=make it increase)· The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.dismiss speculation (=say that it is not true)· He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.end speculation· Smith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.phrasesbe a matter for speculation (=be unknown)· The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.be the subject of speculation (=be thought and guessed about)· His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.
- Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.
- In the last quarter, there has been a rise in bond speculation.
- Reports that the couple are getting a divorce have been dismissed as wild speculation.
- Share prices increased amid speculation that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.
- The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.
- The news fuelled speculation that the President's health had become significantly worse.
- The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.
- the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's death
- There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.
- There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium's largest banks.
- Washington was buzzing with speculation that the senator would resign.
- After a week of fevered speculation, John Major, Britain's prime minister, shuffled his cabinet.
- It also rejected speculation that Button was trying to steal the plane.
- It is the second type of question which is aimed at arousing speculation about possible solutions.
- Of course, Fellini would reject such intellectual speculations.
- This has given rise to speculation about the origins of such territorial units and the rationale behind the siting of cemeteries.
- Where all this leaves Napster has been the subject of much speculation.
Longman Language Activatoran attempt to guess something
an attempt to guess something: · This is only a guess, but I think Barbara might have gone to Jan's house.· I didn't really know the answer. It was just a lucky guess.make a guess: · I'm not sure why she left him, but I think I can make a guess.good guess spoken (=say this when someone's guess is almost correct): · "When was the house built - about 1600?" "That's a good guess - it was 1624."I'll give you two/three guesses spoken (=say this when you think the other person already knows the answer to the question): · "Who's her new boyfriend then?" "I'll give you three guesses!''an educated guess: · "Did Cindy tell you that she's sold the business?" "No, it was just an educated guess."
an opinion about the value, size, speed etc of something that is formed partly by calculating and partly by guessing: · According to some estimates, almost two thirds of the city has been destroyed by the earthquake.rough estimate (=an estimate that is not intended to be exact): · These are the figures, but they're only a rough estimate.at/as a rough estimate (=making a rough estimate): · At a rough estimate, staff are recycling less than a quarter of the paper we buy.a conservative estimate (=an estimate that is deliberately low): · We're predicting a 10% rise in oil prices -- and that's a conservative estimate.
when you try to understand something or find the answer to something by guessing, because you do not have all the information you need: · It's important to find out what consumers want to buy, rather than relying on guesswork.· At the beginning, the police investigation was largely based on guesswork.it was pure/sheer guesswork spoken (=use this to say that you found out something by guessing): · "How did you know where she'd gone?" "It was pure guesswork."
when a lot of people, especially in newspapers and on television, try to guess what is happening or what will happen because they do not have much definite information: speculation about: · There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.· The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.speculation that: · A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.amid speculation (that): · The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.wild speculation (=guesses that are not sensible): · the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's deathpure speculation (= guesses that are not sensible based only on guessing, and not on informaion): · Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.
an opinion, explanation etc that is speculative is based on guessing and not on facts: · Theories of the origin of life are partly speculative.highly speculative (=based almost completely on guessing and probably not correct): · Until further research has been done, any figures that I can give you are highly speculative.entirely/purely speculative (=based completely on guessing): · The papers were full of talk of Lucan's whereabouts, all of it entirely speculative.
formal guesses that are based on information that is not complete: a matter for/of conjecture (=something that people can try to guess but cannot know): · It's a matter for conjecture who wrote the original text in the fifteenth century.pure conjecture (=based only on guessing, and not on facts): · The judge dismissed the evidence as pure conjecture.
rules of acceptable behaviour British /rumor American information which is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true, especially information about people's private lives or about something that a government, company etc has done or is planning to do: · The truth finally came out after months of rumour and gossip.rumour about/of: · What's this rumour about you and Vince Foster?· There were rumours of bombings in the northern part of the country.rumour that: · The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.hear a rumour: · Have you heard the rumour about him and his secretary?spread a rumour (=tell other people a rumour): · Someone's been spreading nasty rumours about me.it's only a rumour: · I don't think he's going to resign. It's only a rumour.rumour has it that (=there is a rumour that): · Rumour has it that there will be major job cuts in the new year.
if there is speculation about something, especially about something that is happening in politics or public life, a lot of people are talking about it and trying to guess what the truth is - used especially in news reports: speculation about: · There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium's largest banks.speculation that: · Washington was buzzing with speculation that the senator would resign.amid speculation: · Share prices increased amid speculation that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.prompt/fuel etc speculation (=start or increase speculation): · The news fuelled speculation that the President's health had become significantly worse.pure/wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is very unlikely to be true): · Reports that the couple are getting a divorce have been dismissed as wild speculation.
information which people tell each other about other people's private lives, and which may or may not be true, especially when this is done in an unkind or disapproving way: · I got back from my vacation eager to hear all the latest gossip.gossip about: · The conversation began to drift towards gossip about their colleagues.exchange gossip (with somebody) (=tell each other gossip): · Mrs Busby was always ready to exchange local gossip with the customers who came into her shop.gossip column (=part of a newspaper that contains gossip about famous people): · Recently her name has showed up a lot in gossip columns.malicious gossip (=unkind and untrue gossip that someone spreads deliberately): · I don't believe Liz had an affair with him. That's just malicious gossip.
when something immoral or shocking happens, often involving important people, organizations, or events, and it becomes known by the general public: · Have you heard the latest scandal? Mick Green's been arrested for bribery and corruption.scandal over: · The scandal over the deal forced the corporation's president to resign in disgrace.a scandal breaks/erupts: · A major scandal erupted in November 1989, with the discovery that cattle in the UK and Netherlands had been given food contaminated with lead.
information or news that you think might be true, although you do not have any definite proof: reports of: · The government has promised to investigate reports of police corruption.unconfirmed reports (=reports that have not yet been proved to be true): · We are getting unconfirmed reports of a gas explosion in downtown Los Angeles.
what people tell each other about other people's personal lives, especially about their sexual relationships: · In those days there was always talk if two people lived together without being married.just talk (=a rumour that is unlikely to be true): · "They say he's having an affair with a colleague at work." "That's just talk."
something that you have been told, or that you have heard only indirectly, but which you have no way of proving to be either true or untrue: · All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports.· Judge Wagenbach ruled that the statement was inadmissible as evidence, after Mr. Lamb's attourney argued that it was hearsay.rely on hearsay: · A factual book is a lot better than relying on hearsay from friends.hearsay evidence (=evidence given in a court of law by someone who did not directly see something happen): · The court is not allowed to admit hearsay evidence.
if you hear some news or information on or through the grapevine , someone else tells it to you unofficially, often in conversation: · "Who told you I was moving house?" "Oh, I just heard it on the grapevine."· Freddie was distressed when, through the grapevine, he heard of Liza's marriage.the school/hospital/industry etc grapevine: · According to the high-school grapevine, Kelly wants me to ask her out on a date.
if someone or something is rumoured to be doing something, be happening, be in a particular condition etc, that is what you have heard people saying: · It's a five star hotel and rumored to be the best in Europe.· The hospital is rumoured to be heading for closure, after the government's announcement on cuts.
WORD SETSadmin, nounadministration, nounadministrative, adjectiveadministrator, nounagency, nounagent, nounbalance sheet, nounbazaar, nounbid, nounbid, verbbig business, nounbook value, nounboss, nounbottom line, nounbranch, nouncapacity, nouncapital, nouncapital assets, nouncapital gains, nouncapital goods, nouncapital-intensive, adjectivecapitalist, nouncard, nouncentralize, verbcompetitiveness, nounconsultancy, nouncontract, nouncontract, verbcost-effective, adjectivecoupon, nouncritical path, noundecentralize, verbdeveloper, noundistiller, noundistributor, noundiversify, verbdownsize, verbeconomics, nounenterprise, nounentrepreneur, nounestablishment, nounfashion, nounfly-by-night, adjectivefold, verbfoodstuff, nounform letter, nounfranchise, verbfranchisee, noungazump, verbgearing, noungeneric, adjectiveget, verbhard sell, nounhaute couture, nounhigh season, nounhigh technology, nounhike, nounhike, verbloss, nounlow-tech, adjectivemaximize, verbMD, nounmerchandise, verbmerchandising, nounmerger, nounmiddleman, nounmiller, nounmission statement, nounmom-and-pop, adjectivemoneygrabbing, adjectivemoneymaker, noun-monger, suffixmonopolistic, adjectivemonopoly, nounnet, adjectivenet, verbniche, nounoff-the-peg, adjectiveopening time, nounoperation, nounoperational, adjectiveoperator, nounoption, nounoutlay, nounoutlet, nounoutput, nounoutwork, nounoverhead, nounoverstock, verbpackage, nounpartner, nounpartnership, nounpatent, nounpayola, nounpercentage, nounpiracy, nounpremium, nounprivate practice, nounprivatization, nounprivatize, verbprofitability, nounproprietor, nounproprietress, nounpurchase price, nounpurchasing power, nounquiet, adjectiveR & D, nounrate of return, nounrecall, verbreject, nounrep, nounresearch and development, nounrestrictive practices, nounrevenue, nounsell, verbservice industry, nounsleeping partner, nounspeculate, verbspeculation, nounspeculative, adjectivestreet value, nounsubtotal, nounswap meet, nounsweatshop, nounsyndicate, nounsystems analyst, nountake, nountender, nountie-up, nounTM, transact, verbtransaction, nounturnover, nounundersell, verbuneconomic, adjectiveunit, noununprofitable, adjectivevideo conferencing, nounwatchdog, nounwheeler-dealer, nounwheeling and dealing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculation Progress was slow, fueling concerns that the stadium would not be finished on time.
1when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you makespeculation that (=not based on any knowledge)· A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.
(=unlikely to be true)· Such fears are wild speculation.
· The reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.
· There was widespread speculation about his political plans.
· The move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.
· She appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.
verbs (=result in it)· This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.
(=make it increase)· The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.
(=say that it is not true)· He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.
· Smith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.
phrases (=be unknown)· The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.
(=be thought and guessed about)· His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=encourage people to discuss something when they do not know the facts)· The cut in US interest rates excited speculation of a similar cut in the UK.
Progress was slow, fueling concerns that the stadium would not be finished on time. (=a lot of guessing about what may have happened)· After weeks of intense speculation, the actress announced that she was pregnant.
(=something people discuss and wonder about)· His future had become a matter for speculation.
(=a guess that is not based on any facts)· Most of what you hear is pure speculation.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· At present, there is considerable speculation about developments in the Corridor but little hard evidence.· Inevitably there has been considerable speculation on the causes and implications of urban disturbances.· There had been considerable speculation and concern that it was about to do so.· There was also considerable press speculation that Bennett's decision had in part resulted from ill-feeling between himself and Sununu.
· You become the source of endless speculation.· There was endless media speculation about who the characters were in real life and which political insider was the author.
· Criticisms of William Waldegrave's handling of the health portfolio fuelled speculation that he might be sacked.
· This is the critical signal that would stop all further speculation about what has actually been seen.· He was spared further speculation by the descent of Miss Harker, candle aloft, like a vengeful ghost.· A further speculation is that the optimum must lie between these two values.
· But he had no time for idle speculation.· Exactly when we might end our voyage was largely a matter of idle speculation.
· The reasoning behind the unpopular and disastrous resignation immediately became the subject of intense speculation.· How much money Simpson has is a matter of intense speculation and debate.· Outside Whitehall there was now intense speculation about what was to happen.· The brewing group has been the subject of intense speculation for decades.· Yet it is worth remembering that they were fuelled by intense speculation about her marriage.· The commencement of the trial ended a period of intense speculation that Barry would reach a plea bargain with the federal authorities.· Against her will Polly had found herself curious about the subject of such intense speculation.
· Putting aside more philosophical speculations, what does it tell you about the future of, er, your job?· The seat of awareness is a subject of philosophical speculation.
· But a regional health authority spokesman dismissed the document as pure speculation.· There are clinical-minded people who claim that the youngsters are just hysterical from overwork, but that of course is pure speculation.· How often he acquires them for himself, how often through another, is pure speculation.· Jury will disregard that last as pure speculation on the witness's part.· Critics are free to express opinions on such matters, but most of what you hear is pure speculation.· I said this was pure speculation.· But very little - if any - was written as pure speculation.· Brady uses this horrid incident as a Rosebud inspiration for a life of flurry and accomplishment, but this is pure speculation.
· It also dampened recent speculation that Tabai was seeking lucrative jobs outside Kiribati.· Despite recent speculation, the club has denied any intention of leaving Los Angeles.· Much of the recent speculation has overtly political motives.· Names prominently mentioned in recent speculation have included retired Gen.
· Yesterday, the club's board of directors issued a statement aimed at silencing widespread speculation.· Only Rugby Union holds out against the commercial tide despite widespread speculation about covert payments to players.
· For several weeks after that, my head filled with a multitude of wild theories and speculations.· And tougher regulations and market enforcement should slow wild speculation and heavy swings in trading.
NOUN· I was amazed, following media speculation, that the number of visible police officers was so low.· Much of the media speculation since then has focused on why Jackson married Presley, 27.· There was endless media speculation about who the characters were in real life and which political insider was the author.
· Composites, which have attracted takeover speculation, were inclined to ease on disappointment that Pearl had been targeted.· But takeover speculation could give the stock some zip.· They fell 2p to 495p while United gained 7p to 421p on continuing takeover speculation.· Fuld refused to comment on takeover speculation.
VERB· The relationship between dealer and client would often become a fantasy world, based on speculation presented as logic.· Yet the commercial is based on speculation that is indeed scary but not unjustified.· The most obvious is that it helps you prepare your position so that it is based on facts rather than speculation or wishful thinking.· My enthusiasm for this notion is not based on speculation.
· But he refused to comment on speculation that it was the home of a former girlfriend of Mr McEvoy.· Fuld refused to comment on takeover speculation.· Equity Office would not comment on the speculation.
· Her first sight of Miss Taylor dismissed Robbie's speculation.· Recent social research has dismissed such speculation.· Most readers have had a predilection to dismiss the arguments and speculations.
· It also ended speculation that Cuomo might pull his punches in criticizing Clinton on the welfare issue.
· It followed days of frenzied speculation about his relationship with Diana and the state of her marriage to Prince Charles.· The rampant inflation that followed Henry VIII's currency speculations and which his successors could hardly limit hit them most of all.· I was amazed, following media speculation, that the number of visible police officers was so low.
· Yet it is worth remembering that they were fuelled by intense speculation about her marriage.· The logical impenetrability of the administration's calculations at Camp David inevitably fuels speculation about the motivation for convening it.· This fantasy was not fuelled by disinterested speculation but by envy.
· Kawaja fueled speculation by publicly suggesting that barrels of the by-product were shipped out under cover of night.
· There is increased speculation this could be done through bankruptcy or a reorganization under bankruptcy protection.
· This led to speculation that it was virtually impossible for humans to break 20 seconds for the 200m round a curve.· Therefore, this line of reasoning leads to the speculation that neurones can be chaotic.· These and other observations have led to the obvious speculation that plumes arise at the core-mantle boundary.· His urge to make money led him into timber speculation.· The tower is fully let, leading to speculation that funds were diverted to deal with its liquidity crunch.· Evolutionism played only a minor role because it was associated with the old, rather amateurish techniques that led to unlimited speculation.· He started practicing with the Lakers recently, and that led to the inevitable speculation that he was again thinking of returning.
· The deal prompted speculation about further consolidation in the sector.· This observation prompts the speculation that chains of right-handed amino acids will form left-handed a-helices and this does seem to be so.
· Such matters remained a subject for speculation in August 1945.· The partners remain sanguine about speculation that their tenure of the company they founded is coming to an end.· Whether they are actually his desires, or those of the devil, must remain speculation.· This will remain an untestable speculation unless and until we meet other forms of life, but speculation can be useful.· Must this remain speculation, or are there ways we can find out more about this mysterious earth energy?· Quite what the Faulkner/SDLP executive might have achieved will always remain a matter of speculation.· The status of Fries's ideas remains that of interesting speculation.
There is speculation that the president is ill.speculation about/on speculation about the future The witness’s statement was pure speculation (=not based on any knowledge).wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true)2when you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them: property speculationCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculationpure/mere speculation (=not based on any knowledge)· A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.wild/idle speculation (=unlikely to be true)· Such fears are wild speculation.intense speculation· The reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.widespread speculation· There was widespread speculation about his political plans.renewed speculation· The move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.press/media speculation· She appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.verbslead to/prompt/give rise to speculation (=result in it)· This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.fuel speculation (=make it increase)· The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.dismiss speculation (=say that it is not true)· He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.end speculation· Smith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.phrasesbe a matter for speculation (=be unknown)· The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.be the subject of speculation (=be thought and guessed about)· His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.