A piece of information that is speculative is based on guesses rather than knowledge.
The papers ran speculative stories about his mysterious disappearance.
He has written a speculative biography of Christopher Marlowe.
Synonyms: hypothetical, academic, theoretical, abstract More Synonyms of speculative
2. adjective
Someone who has a speculative expression seems to be trying to guess something about a person or thing.
His mother regarded him with a speculative eye.
speculativelygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb]
I caught her eyes on me speculatively. I imagined she was wondering about my relationshipwith Max.
3. adjective
Speculative is used to describe activities which involve buying goods or shares, or buildings and properties, in the hope of being able to sell them again at a higher price and make a profit.
Thousands of pensioners were persuaded to mortgage their homes to invest in speculativebonds.
The King's Reach hotel was built as a speculative venture but never completed.
More Synonyms of speculative
speculative in British English
(ˈspɛkjʊlətɪv)
adjective
relating to or characterized by speculation, esp financial speculation
Derived forms
speculatively (ˈspeculatively)
adverb
speculativeness (ˈspeculativeness)
noun
speculative in American English
(ˈspɛkjəˌleɪtɪv; ˈspɛkjələtɪv)
adjective
1.
of, characterized by, or having the nature of, speculation or meditation, conjecture, etc.
2.
theoretical, not practical
3.
of or characterized by financial speculation
4.
uncertain; risky
5.
indulging in or fond of speculation
Derived forms
speculatively (ˈspecuˌlatively)
adverb
Word origin
ME speculatif < MFr < LL speculativus
Examples of 'speculative' in a sentence
speculative
They are not speculative investors looking for a quick profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are highly speculative and you should only invest what you can afford to lose.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is a much more speculative venture.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There was a speculative bubble because it was so easy to borrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Figures for lending released yesterday added to fears of a new round of speculative investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The problem with this argument is that it is highly speculative.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The speculative bubble had entered its terminal phase.
John Cassidy DOT.CON (2001)
The highly speculative venture of searching for treasure would not meet that test.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It hardly needs to be said that this is a highly speculative one.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
After only four minutes he saw a speculative effort roll wide and had another chance deflected for a corner.
The Sun (2013)
This is a highly speculative investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But any investment remains highly speculative.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The talks are speculative rather than substantive, for three reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some property experts counsel first-time buyers against being too speculative when looking for a first home.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The money printing leads to cash ending up in speculative homes rather than being sunk into new capital investment in the real economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Limited success would prompt a significant rebound, but they still look highly speculative.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The after-effects of these bubbles in speculative prices were prolonged and painful.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Any financial injury remains speculative.
Christianity Today (2000)
Much has been written about the urgent need for an overhaul of incentive schemes to encourage longterm sustainable performance rather than speculative short-term gains.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Neither of the bids is yet certain, but neither looks speculative, either.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In the face of such rises, human nature ensures that purchasing turns speculative - and another bubble is born.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Maybe his father's desire to escape from too close a Young dependence and to try some of his speculative ventures also had something to do with it.
Jenkins, Roy Truman (1986)
In other languages
speculative
British English: speculative ADJECTIVE
A piece of information that is speculative is based on guesses rather than knowledge.
The papers ran speculative stories about the mysterious disappearance.
American English: speculative
Brazilian Portuguese: especulativo
Chinese: 猜测性的
European Spanish: especulativo
French: spéculatif
German: spekulativ
Italian: basato su speculazioni
Japanese: 推測の
Korean: 추측에 근거한
European Portuguese: especulativo
Latin American Spanish: especulativo
1 (adjective)
He has written a speculative biography of Christopher Marlowe.
Synonyms
hypothetical
a purely hypothetical question
academic
These arguments are purely academic.
theoretical
There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.
abstract
starting with a few abstract principles
tentative
They have reached a tentative agreement to hold talks next month.
notional
the notional value of assets
conjectural
There is something undeniably conjectural about such claims.
suppositional
2 (adjective)
a speculative venture
Synonyms
risky
It is a very risky business.
uncertain
Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future.
hazardous
Below decks was hazardous in very heavy weather.
unpredictable
dicey (informal, mainly British)
a dicey moment during a risky climb up the cliff
chancy (informal)
Investment is becoming a chancy business.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abstract
Definition
not applied or practical
starting with a few abstract principles
Synonyms
theoretical,
general,
complex,
academic,
intellectual,
subtle,
profound,
philosophical,
speculative,
unrealistic,
conceptual,
indefinite,
deep,
separate,
occult,
hypothetical,
generalized,
impractical,
arcane,
notional,
abstruse,
recondite,
theoretic,
conjectural,
unpractical,
nonconcrete
in the sense of academic
Definition
of theoretical interest only
These arguments are purely academic.
Synonyms
theoretical,
ideal,
abstract,
speculative,
hypothetical,
impractical,
notional,
conjectural
in the sense of chancy
Definition
uncertain or risky
Investment is becoming a chancy business.
Synonyms
risky,
dangerous,
uncertain,
dodgy (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
hazardous,
speculative,
perilous,
problematical,
dicey (informal, British),
shonky (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
Synonyms of 'speculative'
speculative
Explore 'speculative' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conjectural
There is something undeniably conjectural about such claims.
Synonyms
speculative,
theoretical,
tentative,
hypothetical,
supposed,
academic,
surmised,
suppositional
in the sense of dicey
Definition
dangerous or tricky
a dicey moment during a risky climb up the cliff
Synonyms
dangerous,
difficult,
tricky,
risky,
hairy (slang),
ticklish,
chancy (informal)
in the sense of hazardous
Definition
involving great risk
Below decks was hazardous in very heavy weather.
Synonyms
dangerous,
risky,
difficult,
uncertain,
unpredictable,
insecure,
hairy (slang),
unsafe,
precarious,
perilous,
parlous (archaic, humorous),
dicey (informal, British),
fraught with danger,
chancy (informal)
in the sense of notional
Definition
hypothetical, imaginary, or unreal
the notional value of assets
Synonyms
hypothetical,
ideal,
abstract,
theoretical,
imaginary,
speculative,
conceptual,
visionary,
unreal,
fanciful,
imagal
in the sense of tentative
Definition
provisional or unconfirmed
They have reached a tentative agreement to hold talks next month.
Synonyms
unconfirmed,
provisional,
indefinite,
test,
trial,
pilot,
preliminary,
experimental,
unsettled,
speculative,
pencilled in,
exploratory,
to be confirmed,
TBC,
conjectural
in the sense of theoretical
Definition
existing in theory but perhaps not in reality
There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.
Synonyms
hypothetical,
academic,
notional,
unproven,
conjectural,
nominal,
postulatory
in the sense of uncertain
Definition
not to be depended upon
Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future.