speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv 
-ˌlā-
1
: involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation
also
: theoretical rather than demonstrable
speculative knowledge
2
: marked by questioning curiosity
gave him a speculative glance
3
: of, relating to, or being a financial speculation
speculative stocks
speculative venture
speculatively
adverb
Synonyms of speculative
Examples of speculative in a Sentence
His conclusions are highly speculative.
a writer with a speculative mind
a speculative boom in housing construction
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of you might explore speculative investments.
—
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
The case for the index fund, however, comes from the embrace of speculative junk and high-risk options by so many young people.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Nov. 2025
More promises could breed more excitement that could breed another speculative frenzy in Tesla shares centered on great expectations.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
In our case, today’s market invites entire user bases to give in to AI companionship, turning a speculative screenplay into a live, unregulated social experiment.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
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Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
The case for the index fund, however, comes from the embrace of speculative junk and high-risk options by so many young people.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Nov. 2025
More promises could breed more excitement that could breed another speculative frenzy in Tesla shares centered on great expectations.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
In our case, today’s market invites entire user bases to give in to AI companionship, turning a speculative screenplay into a live, unregulated social experiment.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speculative. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspek-yə-lət-iv
-ˌlāt-
1
a
: of or relating to mental speculation
speculative knowledge
b
: curious sense 1
a speculative glance
2
: of or relating to financial speculation
speculatively
adverb
Legal Definition
speculative
adjective
spec·u·la·tive
ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv, -ˌlā-
1
: involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation
also
: theoretical rather than demonstrable
speculative medical testimony concerning the cause of death
2
: of, relating to, or being a financial speculation
speculative securities
speculative home building
speculatively
adverb
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