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

• hypothetical
• theoretical
• conjectural

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

Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025

Since its inception in 2013, the festival has taken place in Los Angeles in the fall, showcasing speculative cinema from around the globe. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

While many of the specific futuristic visions remain speculative, the underlying idea is straightforward. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025

Back in 2020, when bitcoin traded around $10,000, investors saw it as purely speculative, Dixit said, who previously led investor relations at Block. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing speculative

• anti-speculative

Kids 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