on spec
idiom
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
That philosophy has guided their collaborations — Mosaic, No Sudden Move, Full Circle — all developed on spec, with no guarantee of backing.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
As more television productions moved to Cowtown, Berry proposed an idea to turn two of Alliance’s industrial buildings, which were built on spec, into production spaces.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
Years later, Jaffe wrote a screenplay for his Sharon and Ozzy story on spec.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Nghệ was freelancing on spec and had NBC accreditation.
—Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on spec
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Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
As more television productions moved to Cowtown, Berry proposed an idea to turn two of Alliance’s industrial buildings, which were built on spec, into production spaces.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
Years later, Jaffe wrote a screenplay for his Sharon and Ozzy story on spec.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Nghệ was freelancing on spec and had NBC accreditation.
—Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on spec
Cite this Entry
“On spec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20spec. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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