W: (adj) speculative [Related to: speculate] (not based on fact or investigation) "a notional figure of cost helps in determining production costs"; "speculative knowledge"
W: (n) speculation [Related to: speculate] (a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)) "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture"
W: (n) theory [Related to: theorize, theorise] (a belief that can guide behavior) "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"
W: (n) theory [Related to: theorize, theorise] (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena) "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"
W: (n) conjecture [Related to: conjecture] (reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence)
W: (n) conjecture [Related to: conjecture] (a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)) "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture"
W: (n) hypothesis [Related to: hypothesize, hypothecate] (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena) "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"