guesswork

noun

guess·​work ˈges-ˌwərk How to pronounce guesswork (audio)
: work performed or results obtained by guess : conjecture

Examples of guesswork in a Sentence

Calculating the drug's long-term effects is pure guesswork.
Recent Examples on the Web Picking the right plan is easier this year Choosing a plan can be confusing and time consuming, but the Secretary says healthcare.gov is trying to take some of the guesswork out of the process. Liz Seegert, Fortune Well, 27 Nov. 2023 The oven, which measures 5.8 cubic feet, offers true convection (giving you a third heating element in addition to the fan to help with even and speedy cooking), air-frying, and helpful preset modes to take the guesswork out of cooking for bread proofing, frozen food, pizza, and dehydrating. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023 But the process also requires a certain amount of educated guesswork. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023 Big leaps in science and technology have dramatically improved weather forecasting, which used to involve a lot of guesswork, and made waging war against wildfires faster, safer and more effective. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2023 No guesswork is needed, either, as the actor quickly identifies the Daytona at the beginning of both posts. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2023 The Digital Chef takes the guesswork out of nutrition by measuring your biometrics and customizing meals to meet vitamin deficiencies and food sensitivities. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Aug. 2023 The real guesswork concerns the narrator’s relationship to his homeland, a place all but denatured by his benumbed observations. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023 Lagasse suggests using an instant-read thermometer to take the guesswork out of making a turkey. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guesswork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guesswork was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near guesswork

Cite this Entry

“Guesswork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guesswork. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

guesswork

noun
guess·​work -ˌwərk How to pronounce guesswork (audio)
: work performed or results gotten by guessing

More from Merriam-Webster on guesswork

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