adj.
Pronunciation: ' spe-ky ə -l ə -tiv, - ˌ l ā -
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 : involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation also : theoretical rather than demonstrable < speculative knowledge>
2 : marked by questioning curiosity <gave him a speculative glance>
3 : of, relating to, or being a financial speculation < speculative stocks> < speculative venture>
– spec · u · la · tive · ly adverb