speculative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Characterized by speculation; based on guessing, unfounded opinions, or extrapolation.

   Like The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx and Crake is a speculative fiction, not a science fiction proper.

2. 2
   adj

   Pursued as a gamble, with possible large profits or losses; risky.

   Tranquillo Barnetta was the grateful beneficiary of uncertain England defending and poor goalkeeping from Joe Hart as he twice saw speculative free-kicks end in the back of the net in the first half.

3. 3
   adj

   Pertaining to financial speculation; Involving or resulting from high-risk investments or trade.

   "Don't dare laugh at us!" smiled his sister. "I wish we were back in Tenth Street. But so many children came[…]and the Tenth Street house wasn't half big enough; and a dreadful speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh, dear, and here we are among the rich and great; and the steel kings and copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins. Do you like the house?"

4. 4
   adj

   showing curiosity

5. 5
   adj

   not based on fact or investigation

6. 6
   adj

   not financially safe or secure

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English speculatyf, borrowed from Old French speculatif or directly from Late Latin speculativus, from Latin speculor.