conjecture

About 2.84 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A statement or an idea which is unproven, but is thought to be true; a guess.

   I explained it, but it is pure conjecture whether he understood, or not.

2. noun A supposition based upon incomplete evidence; a hypothesis.

   The physicist used his conjecture about subatomic particles to design an experiment.

3. noun A statement likely to be true based on available evidence, but which has not been formally proven.
4. noun Interpretation of signs and omens.
5. verb To guess; to venture an unproven idea.

   I do not know if it is true; I am simply conjecturing here.

6. verb To infer on slight evidence; to guess at.

Similar words

surmise hypothesize supposition guess suppose speculate theorize hypothesis speculation hypothecate

Often followed by

that is of and as about what the to

Word family

conjectured conjecturer conjecturers conjectures conjecturing