speculation

/ˌspɛk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: speculations

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The process or act of thinking or meditating on a subject.

Noun

Examples

Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The act or process of reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “speculation” mean?

The process or act of thinking or meditating on a subject.

Is “speculation” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.