From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspeculationspec‧u‧la‧tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 1 GUESSwhen you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you makespeculation that There is speculation that the president is ill.speculation about/on speculation about the future The witness’s statement was pure speculation (=not based on any knowledge).wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true)2 BFBBwhen you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them property speculationCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculationpure/mere speculation (=not based on any knowledge)A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.wild/idle speculation (=unlikely to be true)Such fears are wild speculation.intense speculationThe reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.widespread speculationThere was widespread speculation about his political plans.renewed speculationThe move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.press/media speculationShe appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.verbslead to/prompt/give rise to speculation (=result in it)This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.fuel speculation (=make it increase)The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.dismiss speculation (=say that it is not true)He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.end speculationSmith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.phrasesbe a matter for speculation (=be unknown)The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.be the subject of speculation (=be thought and guessed about)His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.
Examples from the Corpus
speculation• The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.• Share prices increased amid speculation that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.• It is the second type of question which is aimed at arousing speculation about possible solutions.• In the last quarter, there has been a rise in bond speculation.• After a week of fevered speculation, John Major, Britain's prime minister, shuffled his cabinet.• The news fuelled speculation that the President's health had become significantly worse.• A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.• Of course, Fellini would reject such intellectual speculations.• The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.• Where all this leaves Napster has been the subject of much speculation.• There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium's largest banks.• There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.• Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.• It also rejected speculation that Button was trying to steal the plane.• This has given rise to speculation about the origins of such territorial units and the rationale behind the siting of cemeteries.• Reports that the couple are getting a divorce have been dismissed as wild speculation.• the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's death• Washington was buzzing with speculation that the senator would resign.wild/idle speculation• But he had no time for idle speculation.• Exactly when we might end our voyage was largely a matter of idle speculation.• And tougher regulations and market enforcement should slow wild speculation and heavy swings in trading.From Longman Business Dictionaryspeculationspec‧u‧la‧tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/ noun1[countable, uncountable]FINANCE the act of trying to make a profit by speculatingHe made most of his money through property speculation.Inflation encourages consumption, borrowing and speculation.speculation inLow interest rates encourage speculation in the property market.2[uncountable] the act of guessing without knowing all the facts about something, or the guesses that you makespeculation thatThe company’s stock rose on Monday amid speculation that the computer maker may sell its microprocessor technology for $1.5 billion.Speculation mounted (=increased) that the Bundesbank was set to raise its key interest rates.The group is now the focus of takeover speculation.A Treasury official dismissed the reports as “pure speculation”. 