spec ‧ u ‧ la ‧ tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃ ə n, ˌspekjʊˈleɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
1 . when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make
speculation 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 . when you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, ↑ share s etc and then selling them:
property speculation
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculation
▪ pure/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 speculation
The reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.
▪ widespread speculation
There was widespread speculation about his political plans.
▪ renewed speculation
The move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.
▪ press/media speculation
She appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.
■ verbs
▪ lead 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 speculation
Smith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.
■ phrases
▪ be 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.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rumour British English , rumor American English noun [uncountable and countable] information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true:
The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.
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The truth finally came out after months of rumour.
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I've heard rumours about a ghost in the building.
▪ speculation noun [uncountable] a situation in which a lot of people are talking about something that is happening, especially something that is happening in politics or public life, and trying to guess what the truth is:
There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium’s largest banks.
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The report fuelled speculation (=caused more speculation) that he was about to resign.
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His future as a player has been the subject of intense speculation.
▪ gossip noun [uncountable] things that people say about what they think has happened in other people's private lives, which is usually not true :
She tells me all the latest gossip from the office.
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The magazine was full of gossip about celebrities.
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You shouldn't believe every piece of gossip you hear.
▪ talk noun [uncountable] something that people talk about a lot but which is not official:
The government has dismissed talk of a military strike on the country.
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There's been a lot of talk of him resigning.
▪ hearsay noun [uncountable] something that you have heard from someone else, but cannot prove whether it is true or untrue – often used in legal contexts:
All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports.
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hearsay evidence