conjecture

1 of 2

noun

con·​jec·​ture kən-ˈjek-chər How to pronounce conjecture (audio)
1
a
: inference formed without proof or sufficient evidence
b
: a conclusion deduced by surmise or guesswork
The criminal's motive remains a matter of conjecture.
c
: a proposition (as in mathematics) before it has been proved or disproved
2
obsolete
a
: interpretation of omens

conjecture

2 of 2

verb

conjectured; conjecturing kən-ˈjek-chə-riŋ How to pronounce conjecture (audio)
-ˈjek-shriŋ

transitive verb

1
: to arrive at or deduce by surmise or guesswork : guess
scientists conjecturing that a disease is caused by a defective gene
2
: to make conjectures as to
conjecture the meaning of a statement
conjecturer noun

Did you know?

When the noun conjecture entered English in the 14th century, it referred to the act of interpreting signs or omens especially to make prognostications. That sense is now obsolete, but by the 16th century both the noun and verb conjecture had acquired the meanings of speculation and inference that we use today. Conjecture derives via Middle English and Middle French from the Latin verb conicere ("to throw together"), a combination of com- ("together") and jacere ("to throw").

Examples of conjecture in a Sentence

Noun Whether Columbus brought syphilis to the New World—or to the Old World—has been the subject of conjecture for at least 500 years. Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
… their voices rose in a chorus of conjecture and alarm, repeating the selfsame remark: "What is she going to do? I mean, is Betty going to faint?" Edna O'Brien, New Yorker, 1 Jan. 1990
The reason why the French with superior man-power and American resources were doing so poorly was not beyond all conjecture. Barbara W. Tuchman, The March of Folly, 1984
Peculiar features of early maps, which may have been nothing but a draftsman's whimsy, have inspired pages of vain conjecture. Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971
The biography includes conjectures about the writer's earliest ambitions. a conjecture about the extent of the injury Most of the book is conjecture, not fact. Verb It is fashionable now to conjecture that the Big Bang was caused by a random quantum fluctuation in a vacuum devoid of space and time. Martin Gardner, Skeptical Inquirer, November/December 1998
… their traces left for future archaeologists to rediscover and perhaps to wonder or conjecture over. Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations, 1984
I am anxious to conjecture beforehand what may be expected from the sowing turneps [sic] in jaded ground, how much from the acre, & how large they will be? Thomas Jefferson, letter, 29 Dec. 1794
Some have conjectured that the distant planet could sustain life. We only conjecture about his motives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There’s some press conjecture that the transaction will relieve Trump’s current cash crunch, which includes the necessity of his posting a bond to cover a roughly $500-million court judgment by Monday to stave off the seizure of some of his properties by New York Atty. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Last week, the palace sparked more conjecture with a Mother’s Day image of the royal with her three children. Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conjecture 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conjecture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin conjectura, from conjectus, past participle of conicere, literally, to throw together, from com- + jacere to throw — more at jet

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conjecture was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conjecture

Cite this Entry

“Conjecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conjecture. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conjecture

1 of 2 noun
con·​jec·​ture kən-ˈjek-chər How to pronounce conjecture (audio)
: an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence

conjecture

2 of 2 verb
conjectured; conjecturing
-ˈjek-chə-riŋ,
-ˈjek-shriŋ
conjecturer noun

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