conjecture

UK: /kənˈdʒɛktʃə^r/ US: /kənˈdʒɛktʃɚ/ ,(kən jek′chər)

Inflections of 'conjecture' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

conjectures

v 3rd person singular

conjecturing

v pres p

conjectured

v past

conjectured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•jec•ture /kənˈdʒɛktʃɚ/   n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. the forming or expressing of an opinion without sufficient proof:
   [uncountable] Do you know that for a fact or is it only conjecture?
2. an opinion or theory so formed or expressed:
   [countable] Another conjecture was that the butler did it.

v. 

3. to form or express an opinion without sufficient evidence;
   guess: [~ + that clause]
   I conjectured that he was about fifty.
   [no object]
   The situation turned out as he had conjectured.

con•jec•tur•al, adj. 
con•jec•tur•er, n. [countable] See -jec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•jec•ture  (kən jek′chər), n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof.
2. an opinion or theory so formed or expressed;
   guess;
   speculation.
3. [Obs.] the interpretation of signs or omens.

v.t. 

4. to conclude or suppose from grounds or evidence insufficient to ensure reliability.

v.i. 

5. to form conjectures.

• Late Latin conjecturāre, derivative of the noun, nominal
• Middle French)
• Middle French) inferring, reasoning, equivalent. to conject(us) past participle of conjicere to throw together, form a conclusion (con- con- + -jicere, combining form of jacere to throw) + -ūra -ure; (verb, verbal) late Middle English conjecturen (
• Latin conjectūra (
• (noun, nominal) Middle English 1350–1400

con•jec′tur•a•ble, adj. 
con•jec′tur•a•bly, adv. 
con•jec′tur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. surmise, inference, supposition, theory, hypothesis.
• 4. surmise, suppose, presume. See guess. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conjecture / kənˈdʒɛktʃə/ noun

1. the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence; guess
2. the inference or conclusion so formed
3. interpretation of occult signs

verb

1. to infer or arrive at (an opinion, conclusion, etc) from incomplete evidence

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin conjectūra an assembling of facts, from conjicere to throw together, from jacere to throw

conˈjecturable adjective

conˈjecturably adverb

conˈjecturer noun