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

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

Nghệ was freelancing on spec and had NBC accreditation. —Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025

These decisions are not based on spec sheets or press releases, but derived from time behind the wheel with each (save for a couple of outliers). —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 June 2025

Other upgrades, like energy efficiency and smart features, can also offer an upside in value. Bonus: Builders are sitting on spec inventory. —Ryan Serhant, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for on spec

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