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Definition of speculation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

speculation

noun
 
/ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/
 
/ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]
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  1. the act of forming opinions about what has happened or what might happen without knowing all the facts
    • His private life is the subject of much speculation.
    • speculation that… There was widespread speculation that she was going to resign.
    • speculation about something Today's announcement ends months of speculation about the company's future.
    • speculation over something The president’s absence led to speculation over his health.
    • She dismissed the newspaper reports as pure speculation.
    • Our speculations proved right.
    Extra Examples
    • He was dropped from the team amid speculation that he was sick.
    • Much speculation surrounds his role in the crisis.
    • Speculation is mounting that a new tax will be introduced.
    • Speculation was rife as to who would be chosen as a successor.
    • Speculation was rife as to whom the prince might marry.
    • There has been a lot of speculation linking the defender with a move to Chelsea.
    • There has been increasing speculation over the company's future.
    • There was wild speculation among the students as to the reason for cancelling the lecture.
    • This is just speculation on my part.
    • This issue has attracted a great deal of speculation among economists.
    • Whether or not he will get the job is mere speculation.
    • With a lack of credible answers, speculation is running rampant.
    • amateur speculation based on questionable assumptions
    • Speculation was rife that he was having an affair.
    • The visit fuelled speculation about a major arms deal between the two countries.
    • There has been intense media speculation over the past few days.
    Topics Opinion and argumentb2, Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • intense
    • much
    verb + speculation
    • cause
    • encourage
    • fuel
    speculation + verb
    • be rife
    • run rampant
    • grow
    preposition
    • amid speculation
    • speculation among
    • speculation about
    phrases
    • a matter for speculation
    • a matter of speculation
    • a subject of speculation
    See full entry
  2. speculation (in something) the activity of buying and selling goods or shares in a company in the hope of making a profit, but with the risk of losing money
    • speculation in oil
    • speculation against the euro
    • speculation on the stock market
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • financial
    • market
    • stock-market
    preposition
    • speculation in
    • speculation on
    See full entry
See speculation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee speculation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
halfway
adverb
 
 
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