speculative
gb/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/ us/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/
C1
Angličtina
~ 8800
Významy
0 významů
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
Based on uncertain information or guesses
Based on guesses or limited information, not on clear facts.
Vzorec užití:
a speculative [idea/claim/remark/estimate]
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speculative' with 'spectacular' or 'specific'. 'Speculative' does NOT mean impressive or very detailed; it means something is based on guesses or not enough facts. Also, 'speculative' normally describes ideas, theories, or comments, not people.
Synonyma
conjectural (More formal and technical; often used in academic writing.)
|
theoretical (Suggests ideas based on theory rather than practice; not always as uncertain as 'speculative'.)
|
tentative (Focuses on being cautious or not final, rather than on lack of evidence.)
Antonyma
evidence-based (Stresses that something is supported by data or research, the opposite of relying on speculation.)
|
certain (Emphasizes complete confidence or lack of doubt, unlike a speculative idea.)
Kolokace
speculative theory
|speculative claim
|speculative estimate
|purely speculative
|highly speculative
|speculative fiction
Témata
thinking
|science
|media
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- These numbers are highly speculative and may change once we have real data.
- Any talk of layoffs is purely speculative at this point.
- The article offered a speculative explanation for the mysterious lights in the sky.
- Her timeline for the project was speculative, since many details were still unknown.
- Much of the early reporting was speculative and later turned out to be wrong.
Učební příklady
- The date of the launch is still speculative.
- His theory is interesting but very speculative.
- Any link between the two events is purely speculative.
- Early reports about the cause of the fire were speculative.
- The numbers in the plan are speculative, not final.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
Involving risky financial investment
Describes buying or selling things like stocks or houses with high risk, hoping to make fast money from price changes.
Vzorec užití:
speculative [investment/trading/activity/bubble]
Častá chyba:
Learners may think 'speculative' in finance means 'fake' or 'illegal'. It does not; it simply means very risky and based on guesses about future prices. Also, avoid saying 'a speculation stock'; the natural phrase is 'a speculative stock' or 'speculative stocks'.
Synonyma
risky (Broader and less technical; can describe any danger, not only financial risk.)
|
high-risk (Common in finance and business; focuses strongly on the danger, not on the idea of guessing about prices.)
|
speculative-grade (Technical term in finance for bonds or debt considered high risk.)
Antonyma
conservative (Describes careful, low-risk investment strategies, the opposite of speculative ones.)
|
blue-chip (Refers to safe, established investments, contrasting with speculative assets.)
Kolokace
speculative investment
|speculative bubble
|speculative trading
|speculative stock
|speculative real estate
Témata
finance
|business
|economics
Příklady
- They warned small investors to stay away from highly speculative stocks.
- The housing boom turned into a speculative bubble that eventually collapsed.
- He made a fortune through speculative trading in foreign currencies.
- The fund shifted money out of speculative investments and into safer bonds.
- The company’s rapid rise in value looks speculative rather than sustainable.
Učební příklady
- He lost money in speculative stocks.
- The bank does not allow very speculative investments.
- Some people made speculative bets on the price of oil.
- The government is worried about speculative bubbles in the market.
- This is a speculative investment with a high chance of loss.
adjective
formal
C2
property
3
Abstract, theoretical rather than practical
About ideas and theories in the mind, not about doing things in real life or testing them.
Vzorec užití:
speculative [philosophy/thought/approach]
Častá chyba:
Learners may use 'speculative' here where 'specific' or 'detailed' is needed. Remember that 'speculative philosophy' is abstract and often not tested; it is almost the opposite of detailed, concrete description.
Synonyma
philosophical (Often broader; can relate to general thinking about life, not only abstract theory.)
|
abstract (Highlights being not concrete or physical; may or may not imply guesswork.)
|
purely theoretical (Emphasizes having no current practical use; similar but slightly less about guesswork.)
Antonyma
practical (Focuses on real-world action or use, the opposite of abstract speculative thinking.)
|
applied (Describes theory used directly in practice, as in 'applied science', contrasting with speculative theory.)
Kolokace
speculative philosophy
|speculative metaphysics
|speculative thought
|speculative approach
|speculative inquiry
Témata
philosophy
|academia
|thinking
|science
|education
Příklady
- The book offers a speculative philosophy of history rather than a detailed account of events.
- Her work moves beyond data into more speculative reflections on human freedom.
- This is a largely speculative discussion about what intelligent life elsewhere in the universe might be like.
- The paper crosses the line from careful analysis into speculative metaphysics.
- He enjoys speculative debates about the nature of consciousness.
Učební příklady
- The course includes some speculative philosophy.
- Their ideas about time travel are very speculative and theoretical.
- This is a speculative argument about life after death.
- He likes speculative questions about the universe.
- The book is full of speculative thinking, not facts.
adjective
C1
property
4
Showing curious, guessing thought
Describes a look or face that shows a person is guessing or wondering about something.
Vzorec užití:
a speculative [look/glance/expression]
Častá chyba:
Learners may think 'speculative look' means 'special' or 'strange' look. It actually means a look that shows the person is thinking, guessing, or wondering about something.
Synonyma
inquiring (Shows curiosity or a wish to know more; a bit less about guessing specific explanations.)
|
questioning (Shows doubt or desire for answers; can sound more challenging than 'speculative'.)
Antonyma
blank (A 'blank' look shows no emotion or thought, the opposite of a speculative, thoughtful look.)
|
uninterested (Shows lack of curiosity, unlike a speculative expression that shows active wondering.)
Kolokace
a speculative look
|a speculative glance
|a speculative expression
|speculative mood
Témata
emotions
|communication
Příklady
- She gave him a speculative look, as if trying to work out his real intentions.
- The doctor watched the patient with a speculative expression before ordering more tests.
- He paused, a speculative glint in his eyes, as he considered the offer.
- The teacher gave the class a speculative glance, wondering who had cheated.
- They exchanged speculative looks but said nothing.
Učební příklady
- She looked at me with a speculative smile.
- The child watched the machine with a speculative expression.
- He gave a speculative glance at the closed door.
- The manager had a speculative look on his face.
- They shared a speculative look but did not speak.
Gramatika
Slovníkový tvar
speculative
IPA
GB/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/
US/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/
Slabiky a přízvuk
spec - u - lat - ive (4 slabiky)
Stress on 1st syllable (spec)
Tvary slova
Adjective
- Base: speculative
Příbuzná slova
Core family
speculate
verb B2
speculation
noun B2
Related words
speculator
noun
Negative and opposite forms
non-speculative
adjective
Advanced or less common
speculatively
adverb
Výrazy
highly speculative
1/hˈaɪli spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
formal
Very uncertain and guess-based
Very uncertain and based a lot on guesses, not on solid facts.
Příklady
- Analysts called the report highly speculative and misleading.
- This is a highly speculative project with no guarantee of success.
- Their claims about the discovery are still highly speculative.
purely speculative
1/pjˈʊɹli spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
formal
Based only on guesswork
Completely based on guesses, with no clear facts or proof.
Příklady
- Any link between the drug and the illness is purely speculative.
- Her comments about a possible merger are purely speculative.
- At this stage, all timelines are purely speculative.
speculative fiction
1/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv fˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
Fiction about imagined possibilities
A type of story that imagines things that are not real now, such as future worlds, magic, or different versions of history.
Příklady
- She mainly writes speculative fiction set in distant galaxies.
- Speculative fiction often explores how technology might change society.
- The festival features talks by several well-known speculative fiction authors.
speculative investment
1/spˈɛkjəlɪtɪv ɪnvˈɛstmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
High-risk financial investment
An investment where there is a big chance of losing money, but also a chance of making a lot of money quickly.
Příklady
- Buying cryptocurrency was a speculative investment for him.
- The bank warned that this property deal was a speculative investment.
- They limit speculative investments in clients’ portfolios.