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

Under the concept True Dystopic, the #LINK Vertical program brings together auteur documentary and genre cinema, using real locations in Rio de Janeiro as settings for imagining speculative futures. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

The governor, who is up for reelection in November, said speculative proposals to build data centers had swamped Pennsylvania. — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026

The invisible skeleton of modern warfare Applied Aerospace is not a speculative, pre-revenue technology startup selling software promises. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

These platforms are colonizing existing speculative spaces—like election results and sporting outcomes—while profiting from areas of asymmetrical knowledge that were previously not possible to monetize. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English speculatif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin speculātīvus, from Latin speculātus, past participle of speculārī "to keep a close watch on, observe" (Late Latin, "to envision, contemplate") + -īvus -ive — more at speculate

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