What does speculative mean?

Definitions for speculative
ˈspɛk yəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪvspec·u·la·tive

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word speculative.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. bad, risky, high-risk, speculativeadjective

    not financially safe or secure

    "a bad investment"; "high risk investments"; "anything that promises to pay too much can't help being risky"; "speculative business enterprises"

  2. notional, speculativeadjective

    not based on fact or investigation

    "a notional figure of cost helps in determining production costs"; "speculative knowledge"

  3. inquisitive, speculative, questioning, wondering(a)adjective

    showing curiosity

    "if someone saw a man climbing a light post they might get inquisitive"; "raised a speculative eyebrow"

GCIDE

  1. Speculativeadjective

    (Finance) More risky than typical investments; not investment grade.

Wiktionary

  1. speculativeadjective

    Characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Speculativeadjective

    Etymology: speculatif, Fr. from speculate.

    If all other uses were utterly taken away, yet the mind of man being by nature speculative and delighted with contemplation in itself, they were to be known even for meer knowledge sake. Richard Hooker.

    It encourages speculative persons who have no turn of mind to encrease their fortunes. Addison.

    Some take it for a speculative platform, that reason and nature would that the best should govern, but no wise to create a right. Francis Bacon, holy War.

ChatGPT

  1. speculative

    Speculative refers to ideas, theories, or actions that are based on conjecture, hypothesizing, or abstract reasoning rather than concrete facts or evidence. It often involves a significant degree of risk or uncertainty. This term is commonly used in fields such as finance, philosophy, and science.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Speculativeadjective

    given to speculation; contemplative

  2. Speculativeadjective

    involving, or formed by, speculation; ideal; theoretical; not established by demonstration

  3. Speculativeadjective

    of or pertaining to vision; also, prying; inquisitive; curious

  4. Speculativeadjective

    of or pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise

  5. Etymology: [Cf. F. spculatif, L. speculativus.]

Wikidata

  1. Speculative

    A cause of death may be labelled speculative, when circumstances are mysterious or unexplained, or when evidence from autopsy conflicts with other reports or rumours.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of speculative in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of speculative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of speculative in a Sentence

  1. Michael Hasenstab:

    The central bank has handled the speculative attacks adeptly.

  2. Gavin Smith:

    We do expect bitcoin to hit $ 100,000 in the future -- but not this year, as we expect volatility to continue into early 2022, bitcoin is still an emerging asset class subject to very high volatility and investors should approach it with caution. Care should be taken and any investment should be considered speculative.

  3. Owen Callan:

    We had a real capitulation in markets this morning and there was no obvious catalyst, we then had some bargain hunters coming in later in the day, but the moves have been driven by more speculative hedge funds.

  4. Immanuel Kant:

    All the interests of my reason, speculative as well as practical, combine in the three following questions: 1. What can I know? 2. What ought I to do? 3. What may I hope?

  5. Lion Shahab:

    For now, linking a rise in malignant brain tumors to mobile phone usage remains speculative and should not detract from encouraging lifestyle changes which are known to reduce cancer risk, such as adopting a healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption and stopping smoking.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

speculative#10000#20140#100000

Translations for speculative

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"speculative." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 9 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/speculative>.

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