conjecture Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
    speculation.
    • speculations about the outcome of the election
    • he dismissed it as mere conjecture
  2. noun a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
    guess; supposition; surmisal; hypothesis; speculation; surmise.
  3. noun reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence
  4. verb to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
    theorize; hypothesize; theorise; hypothesise; suppose; speculate; hypothecate.
    • Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps

WordNet


Con*jec"ture noun
Etymology
L. conjectura, fr. conjicere, conjectum, to throw together, infer, conjecture; con- + jacere to throw: cf. F. conjecturer. See Jet a shooting forth.
Definitions
  1. An opinion, or judgment, formed on defective or presumptive evidence; probable inference; surmise; guess; suspicion.
    He [Herodotus] would thus have corrected his first loose conjecture by a real study of nature. Whewell.
    Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm. Milton.
Con*jec"ture transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. conjecturer. Cf. Conject.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Conjectured ; present participle & verbal noun Conjecturing
Definitions
  1. To arrive at by conjecture; to infer on slight evidence; to surmise; to guess; to form, at random, opinions concerning.
    Human reason can then, at the best, but conjecture what will be. South.
Con*jec"ture intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make conjectures; to surmise; to guess; to infer; to form an opinion; to imagine.

Webster 1913