C1adjectivemoneybusiness
US/ˈspek.jə.lə.tɪv/
UK/ˈspek.jə.lə.tɪv/
based on guesses, not facts; also done to make quick money, but with a high risk
In context
Much of the news about the merger is purely speculative.
Speculative buying pushed land prices in some suburbs far above their real value.
Experts warned ordinary savers to stay away from speculative investments like new cryptocurrencies.
Words that go with speculative
adverb + adjective
- highly speculativebased on very uncertain guesses or very riskyThe report's conclusions are highly speculative and lack real evidence.
- purely speculativebased only on guesses, with no factsAny talk about his resignation is purely speculative at this point.
adjective + noun
- speculative investmenta risky purchase made hoping for a quick profitBuying land for a quick resale is a speculative investment.
- speculative bubblea price rise caused by risky buying that may burstExperts warned that housing prices were a speculative bubble.