on spec

phrase

1

: without having a definite buyer or customer but with the hope or expectation of finding one when work is completed

He built the house on spec.

She wrote the script on spec.

2

chiefly British : without being sure of success but with the hope of success

He wrote to the company on spec, hoping for a job.

Examples of on spec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Canadian yard has just started building the first unit in its new CCY110 series on spec, meaning that the future owner(s) can customize the interior, accommodations, and technical specifications as construction progresses. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 July 2026

Wilde, whose most recent film is A24’s relationship comedy The Invite, helms the movie from a script by Jimmy Warden (Cocaine Bear), who initially wrote the project on spec. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026

The deal is the latest sign of developers pivoting toward specialized projects for customers such as Amazon to minimize the financial risk of building facilities on spec. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026

National firms followed the highway into Boise and built on spec — that is, speculatively, betting on market conditions without a specific client in mind. — Mark Dee march 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for on spec

• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck
• redneck
• toltec
• beck
• breck