Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Speculation has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
"The analyst's speculation about the market crash was dismissed because it relied solely on rumors rather than actual data."
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
"speculations about the outcome of the election"
"he dismissed it as mere conjecture"
an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits
"he knew the stock was a speculation when he bought it"
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
"the habit of meditation is the basis for all real knowledge"
The process of thinking or meditating on a subject.
"The quiet evening gave him time for deep speculation about the nature of existence."
In plain English: Speculation is making a guess about something without having all the facts to be sure it will happen.
"His entire investment portfolio was based on wild speculation about rising oil prices."
Usage: Use speculation to describe forming theories without firm evidence, rather than the act of deep meditation which is better expressed as contemplation. Avoid confusing it with investment risks; while financial speculation involves risk-taking based on uncertain outcomes, general speculation refers simply to guessing or theorizing about a topic.
The word "speculation" entered English via the Middle English speculacioun and Old French forms derived from the Late Latin noun speculatio. It originally referred to the act of looking out or observing, which evolved into its modern sense through the verb root meaning "to look."