conjecture
gb/kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/ us/kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
C1
English
~ 6300
feltételezés, találgatás, feltételez, sejtés
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
feltételezés
B2
találgatás
B2
Usage pattern:
to make/form [a] conjecture about [something]
The cause of the fire remains a matter of conjecture.
A tűz oka továbbra is találgatások tárgya.
His theory is interesting, but at this stage it is still pure conjecture.
Az elmélete érdekes, de ebben a szakaszban még puszta feltételezés.
Most of the reports about the company’s plans are just media conjecture.
Any link between the two events is mere conjecture at this point.
Their conjecture about the outcome turned out to be completely wrong.
Learner examples
The reasons for her decision are only conjecture.
A döntésének okai csak találgatások.
This idea is not fact; it is just conjecture.
Ez az elképzelés nem tény, csak feltételezés.
Without data, our discussion is mostly conjecture.
Their conjecture about the problem was later proved false.
The newspapers are full of conjecture about the election.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "conjecture" when a simple, neutral word like "idea" or "plan" is meant. "Conjecture" always implies a lack of complete evidence. Also, some learners try to use it as a verb in patterns like *"make conjecture"* without an article; in most cases, say "make a conjecture" or use the verb "conjecture" instead.
Meaning
opinion based on limited evidence
Collocations
pure conjecture
|mere conjecture
|idle conjecture
|wild conjecture
|based on conjecture
|open to conjecture
Synonyms
speculation (Very close in meaning; common in both everyday and academic contexts, slightly less formal-sounding than "conjecture".)
|
guess (More informal and everyday; does not suggest careful thought in the way "conjecture" often does.)
|
surmise (Somewhat formal and literary; often suggests a quick or intuitive conjecture.)
Antonyms
fact (A piece of information that is known to be true, not just suspected.)
|
certainty (A state of being completely sure, the opposite of a tentative guess.)
|
proof (Clear evidence that shows something is true, rather than a view based on limited information.)
Themes
thinking
|science
|communication
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
An idea or opinion that is only a guess because you do not have all the facts.
An opinion, explanation, or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information; a guess that is not supported by enough evidence.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
feltételez
B2
Usage pattern:
to conjecture that [clause]
Investigators can only conjecture that the missing files were destroyed.
A nyomozók csak feltételezni tudják, hogy a hiányzó fájlokat megsemmisítették.
From the footprints, we can conjecture that two people entered the building.
A lábnyomok alapján feltételezhetjük, hogy két ember ment be az épületbe.
Some historians conjecture that the letter was never actually sent.
Analysts conjecture that demand will rise again next year.
Critics have conjectured that the author wrote the book in response to recent events.
Learner examples
Scientists conjecture that the animal is already extinct.
A tudósok feltételezik, hogy az állat már kihalt.
We can only conjecture that she missed the train.
Csak feltételezni tudjuk, hogy lekéste a vonatot.
From his smile, I conjecture that he is happy with the result.
Experts conjecture that the price will go up soon.
They conjectured that the noise came from the old machine.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"conjecture about that"* when a clause is needed: in formal writing, prefer "conjecture that..." with a full sentence after it. Also, avoid *"conjecture of"* for this verbal meaning; use "conjecture that" or simply a noun phrase, e.g. "conjecture about the cause" (noun).
Meaning
to form a guess with limited data
Collocations
conjecture that
|conjecture about
|conjecture from [evidence]
|conjecture wildly
|conjecture on the basis of
Synonyms
speculate (Very close in meaning; common in everyday and academic English, and can sound slightly less stiff than "conjecture".)
|
guess (More informal; often suggests less careful thinking than "conjecture".)
|
hypothesize (More technical and scientific; often used in formal research contexts.)
Antonyms
prove (Means to show something is true with enough evidence, the opposite of merely conjecturing.)
|
establish (To demonstrate something clearly and firmly, leaving the realm of conjecture.)
|
verify (To check and confirm truth with evidence, rather than only guessing it.)
Themes
thinking
|science
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To guess or form an opinion when you do not have all the facts.
To form an opinion, explanation, or conclusion without having complete information; to guess based on limited evidence.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
sejtés
C1
Usage pattern:
to prove/disprove [a] conjecture
Fermat's Last Theorem was a famous conjecture for centuries before it was finally proved.
Fermat utolsó tétele évszázadokon át híres sejtés volt, míg végül be nem bizonyították.
Goldbach's conjecture states that every even integer greater than two can be expressed as the sum of two primes.
A Goldbach-sejtés szerint minden kettőnél nagyobb páros egész szám felírható két prímszám összegeként.
The researcher proposed a new conjecture about the distribution of prime numbers.
After years of effort, the team managed to disprove the long-standing conjecture.
This conjecture has deep connections with several other problems in number theory.
Learner examples
Students learned about a simple conjecture in number theory.
A diákok egy egyszerű sejtésről tanultak a számelméletben.
Mathematicians have tried to prove this conjecture for many years.
A matematikusok sok éve próbálják bebizonyítani ezt a sejtést.
If we find a counterexample, the conjecture is false.
This conjecture later became a theorem after a long proof.
The book explains a famous conjecture in clear language.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "conjecture" with "theorem" in mathematics. A conjecture is not yet proved; a theorem has already been proved. Also, outside mathematics, "conjecture" is more general, but this technical sense is specifically about mathematical statements.
Meaning
unproven but plausible mathematical statement
Collocations
mathematical conjecture
|Goldbach's conjecture
|Riemann conjecture
|famous conjecture
|prove a conjecture
|disprove a conjecture
Synonyms
hypothesis (In mathematics and science, a tentative statement; in pure math, "conjecture" more strongly suggests something widely believed but unproven.)
|
unproven theorem (Informal description within mathematics; once proven, it becomes a true theorem, not a conjecture.)
Antonyms
theorem (A mathematical statement that has been proven, opposite to an unproven conjecture.)
|
law (In science, a well-established general rule supported by strong evidence, unlike a conjecture.)
Themes
science
|education
|technology
Definition
In mathematics, a statement that people think is true, but which no one has proved yet.
In mathematics and related fields, a statement that is believed to be true but has not yet been proved or disproved.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conjecture
IPA
GB/kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
US/kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
con - jec - ture (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (jec)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conjecture
- Plural: conjecture, conjectures
Verb
- Base: conjecture
- 3rd Person Singular: conjectures
- Present Participle: conjecturing
- Past: conjectured
Word family
Forms
conjectures
noun
conjecturing
verb
conjectured
verb
Related words
conjectural
adjective
Advanced or less common
conjecturally
adverb
Expressions
idle conjecture
1/ˈaɪdəl kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
casual guessing without purpose
Guessing or talking about something with no real facts and no serious reason, often just to pass the time.
Examples
- Their talk about a merger was dismissed as idle conjecture.
- The meeting should focus on data, not idle conjecture.
- I have no wish to engage in idle conjecture about his motives.
mere conjecture
1/mˈɪɹ kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
nothing more than a guess
Used to stress that something is only a guess and should not be treated as fact.
Examples
- Any link between the two crimes is mere conjecture.
- His theory about a cover-up remains mere conjecture.
- Without documents, our timeline is mere conjecture.
open to conjecture
1/ˈoʊpən tə kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
not known, only guessable
Used when something is not known, so people can only guess about it.
Examples
- The true cost of the project is still open to conjecture.
- Whether the policy will work remains open to conjecture.
- The exact reason for his resignation is open to conjecture.
pure conjecture
1/pjˈʊɹ kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
only a guess, no evidence
Used to say that something is just a guess and there are no real facts to support it.
Examples
- Until we have the test results, any talk of the cause is pure conjecture.
- Their claim that the company is about to fail is pure conjecture at this point.
- Saying that he lied is pure conjecture; we simply do not know.
wild conjecture
1/wˈaɪld kənd͡ʒˈɛkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
very unlikely, unsupported guess
A guess that is not based on good reasons and is probably not true.
Examples
- The article is full of wild conjecture about the actor’s private life.
- Any talk of secret payments is, at this stage, wild conjecture.
- Let’s stick to the facts and avoid wild conjecture.