speculation

Ideas about what might be true or happen, based on incomplete information.

• That is just speculation.
• His silence caused speculation about his future.
• The company denied speculation that it would close.

How to use it: speculation about/over something (There is speculation about her next film.); speculation that… (The report fueled speculation that he would resign.)

Similar words: guesswork, conjecture

Common phrases: wild speculation, speculation about something, media speculation

Thinking about what may be true when you do not have enough information to know.

• Further speculation will not help.
• After much speculation, we agreed on a possible explanation.
• She spent hours in speculation about his motives.

How to use it: speculation about/on something (Speculation about the cause continued for weeks.)

Similar words: guesswork, conjecture

Common phrases: careful speculation, speculation about something, endless speculation

Buying and selling things at financial risk in the hope of making a large profit.

• He lost money through speculation.
• Currency speculation can involve enormous risks.
• The government introduced rules to limit speculation in housing.

How to use it: speculation in something (Speculation in property pushed prices higher.)

Common phrases: property speculation, currency speculation, financial speculation