adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈspɛkjuləˌtɪv/
/ˈspɛkjələˌtɪv/
/ˈspɛkjəˌleɪtɪv/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S P EH1 K Y AH0 L AH0 T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Characterized by speculation; based on guessing, unfounded opinions, or extrapolation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Pursued as a gamble, with possible large profits or losses; risky.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Pertaining to financial speculation; Involving or resulting from high-risk investments or trade.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
showing curiosity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
if someone saw a man climbing a light post they might get inquisitive
raised a speculative eyebrow
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inquisitive, questioning, wondering(a)
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
not based on fact or investigation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a notional figure of cost helps in determining production costs
speculative knowledge
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: notional
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
not financially safe or secure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a bad investment
high risk investments
anything that promises to pay too much can't help being risky
speculative business enterprises
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bad, risky, high-risk
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English speculatyf, borrowed from Old French speculatif or directly from Late Latin speculativus, from Latin speculor.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
рискован
(riskovan)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Bulgarian:
спекулативен
(spekulativen)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Catalan:
especulatiu
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Czech:
spekulativní
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Dutch:
speculatief
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Esperanto:
spekulativa
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Esperanto:
konjekta
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Finnish:
pohdiskeleva
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Finnish:
järkeilevä
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Finnish:
spekulatiivinen
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
French:
spéculatif
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Galician:
especulativo
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
German:
spekulativ
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Greek:
αναπόδεικτος
(anapódeiktos)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Ido:
spekulema
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Italian:
speculativo
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Kazakh:
алып-сатарлық
(alyp-satarlyq)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Norwegian Bokmål:
spekulativ
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Norwegian Nynorsk:
spekulativ
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Polish:
spekulatywny
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Russian:
умозри́тельный
(umozrítelʹnyj)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Russian:
спекуляти́вный
(spekuljatívnyj)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Spanish:
especulativo
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Ukrainian:
спекуляти́вний
(spekuljatývnyj)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Ukrainian:
умогля́дний
(umohljádnyj)
— characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions
Esperanto:
spekula
— pertaining to financial speculation
Finnish:
keinotteleva
— pertaining to financial speculation
Finnish:
keinottelu-
— pertaining to financial speculation
Finnish:
keplotteleva
— pertaining to financial speculation
Finnish:
keplottelu-
— pertaining to financial speculation
