Speculation Meaning
/ˌspɛk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe faculty of sight.
nounAn act of looking at something; examination, observation.
Sentence Examples
Speculation is growing apace.
No speculation has taken place concerning the motives.
His private life is the subject of much speculation.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The rumor led to much ____ but little solid evidence to support it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sudden increase in house prices was largely driven by market ____ rather than actual demand.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Middle English speculation English speculation From Middle English speculacioun, speculation, from Old French speculation (compare French spéculation), from Late Latin speculātiō, speculātiōnem, from Latin speculor. Morphologically speculate + -ion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thou hast no speculation in those eyes."
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
"[T]he expression of exultation and content on their animated faces, is one of my most delicious speculations."
— 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 115:
"Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"It ſeems, the Minds of theſe People are ſo taken up with intenſe Speculations, that they neither can ſpeak, nor attend to the Diſcourſes of others, without being rouzed by ſome external Taction upon the Organs of Speech and Hearing; for which reaſon, thoſe Perſons who are able to afford it always keep a Flapper (the Original is Climenole) in their Family, as one of their Domeſticks, nor ever walk abroad or make Viſits without him."
— 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Humours and Dispositions of the Laputians Described. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), pages 16–17:
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have ended months of intense speculation by announcing they are expecting their first child, but were forced to share their news earlier than hoped because of the Duchess's admission to hospital on Monday."
— 2012 December 3, Caroline Davies, The Guardian:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The rumor led to much ____ but little solid evidence to support it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sudden increase in house prices was largely driven by market ____ rather than actual demand.