speculative

[spek-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv] /ˈspɛk yəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv/

adjective

pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning:

a speculative approach.

theoretical, rather than practical:

speculative conclusions.

given to speculation, as persons, the mind, etc.

of the nature of or involving commercial or financial speculation:

speculative ventures.

engaging in or given to such speculation.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English < Late Latin speculātīvus. See speculate, -ive

Related forms

speculatively, adverb

speculativeness, noun

antispeculative, adjective

antispeculatively, adverb

antispeculativeness, noun

hyperspeculative, adjective

hyperspeculatively, adverb

hyperspeculativeness, noun

nonspeculative, adjective

nonspeculatively, adverb

nonspeculativeness, noun

overspeculative, adjective

overspeculatively, adverb

overspeculativeness, noun

semispeculative, adjective

semispeculatively, adverb

semispeculativeness, noun

unspeculative, adjective

Examples from the web for speculative

These more speculative ideas centered on the environmental conditions of life on an open savanna.
All told, it's still a rather speculative line of argument.
And some of its tropes of corporations taking over the world seem not-so-speculative.
In fact, those comments regarding aids were speculative in the early stages of data collections.
Ready or not, here comes my final speculative post exploring the evolutionary conundrum of why our species conceals ovulation.
The error is in using speculative happy thoughts related to the crisis as examples of skillful redirection.
It's an area ripe for even more speculative investment.
How this influence actually works is speculative- no one can ever really know what other people do in their bedrooms or why.
That's speculative, of course, but there's some evidence to support it.
His speculative and practical sides were frequently confused.

British Dictionary definitions for speculative

speculative

/ˈspɛkjʊlətɪv/

adjective

relating to or characterized by speculation, esp financial speculation

Derived Forms

speculatively, adverb
speculativeness, noun

Word Origin and History for speculative

adj.

late 14c., from Old French speculatif or directly from Late Latin speculativus, from past participle stem of speculari (see speculation). Related: Speculatively.