speculation
speculation — noun
1. the forming of ideas or opinions about something when you do not have all the fa
the forming of ideas or opinions about something when you do not have all the facts, so that you cannot be certain whether those ideas are correct.
Apinya dismissed the rumours as mere speculation from jealous colleagues.
dismiss [something] as mere speculation
There has been widespread speculation about who will replace the retiring CEO.
widespread speculation about [topic]
The newspaper clearly labelled the report as pure speculation, not confirmed news.
Aoi's theory about the ancient building was based on speculation, not on any real evidence.
Samir refused to join the speculation over the election results before counting finished.
- conjecture
more formal, often used in academic or technical writing
- guess
more casual and less structured; can be a single guess rather than ongoing discussion
- rumour
suggests unverified information being spread; rumour is often about specific claims while speculation is broader
文法句型
speculation about/over + noun
speculation that + clause
be mere/pure speculation
用法筆記
Often used in news and media contexts. Frequently uncountable, but a countable form (speculations) is possible when referring to specific theories or rumours.
常見錯誤
2. when a person or company buys assets, shares, or goods not because they need the
when a person or company buys assets, shares, or goods not because they need them but because they expect the price to rise quickly, accepting a high risk of losing their money.
Land speculation in the suburbs drove prices far beyond what local families could afford.
land speculation + drove prices up
The billionaire built his fortune through currency speculation in emerging markets.
currency speculation in [markets]
After years of risky speculation, João's investment company finally collapsed.
New regulations were brought in to limit speculation on agricultural commodities.
Evelyn warned her students that short-term speculation is closer to gambling than investing.
- gambling
stronger negative connotation; emphasises the element of chance over analysis
- trading
broader term; trading can include long-term investing, not just high-risk bets
- risk-taking
general term for any behaviour that involves possible loss, not limited to finance
- investment
typically implies careful analysis and a longer-term outlook rather than quick profit-seeking
- saving
putting money aside safely rather than risking it for potential gain
文法句型
speculation in + noun
speculation on + noun
用法筆記
The countable form (speculations) is used for individual transactions or investment deals. Frequently appears with a modifier naming the market (land speculation, currency speculation, stock-market speculation).