Dictionary
speculative
adjective spec·u·la·tive \ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv, -ˌlā-\
: based on guesses or ideas about what might happen or be true rather than on facts
: tending to think about what might happen or be true : tending to speculate
: showing curiosity or uncertainty
Full Definition of SPECULATIVE
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>
— spec·u·la·tive·ly adverb
See speculative defined for English-language learners
See speculative defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of SPECULATIVE
14th century
Related to SPECULATIVE
- Synonyms
- academic (also academical), conjectural, hypothetical, theoretical, suppositional
Other Business Terms
Rhymes with SPECULATIVE
aggregative, agitative, applicative, carminative, circulative, cogitative, combinative, commutative, connotative, consecrative, consultative, contemplative, copulative, corporative, denotative, dissipative, duplicative, educative, facultative, federative, generative, germinative, gravitative, imitative, implicative, innovative, instigative, integrative, irritative, iterative, legislative, limitative, meditative, meliorative, motivative, nominative, nuncupative, operative, palliative, penetrative, procreative, propagative, qualitative, quantitative, recreative, regulative, replicative, separative, terminative, vegetative
Learn More About SPECULATIVE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: speculative damagesPrevious Word in the Dictionary: speculatistAll Words Near: speculative
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up speculative? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).