conjecture Meaning, Definition & Usage

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
noun a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
guess; supposition; surmisal; hypothesis; speculation; surmise.
noun reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence
verb to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
theorize; hypothesize; theorise; hypothesise; suppose; speculate; hypothecate.
- Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps

L. conjectura, fr. conjicere, conjectum, to throw together, infer, conjecture; con- + jacere to throw: cf. F. conjecturer. See Jet a shooting forth.

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.

Cf. F. conjecturer. Cf. Conject.

imperfect & past participle Conjectured ; present participle & verbal noun Conjecturing

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.

To make conjectures; to surmise; to guess; to infer; to form an opinion; to imagine.