conjecture

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/kənˈdʒek.tʃər/
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A reasoned but unproved idea, especially a guess from incomplete evidence or a mathematical proposition still waiting for proof.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • The report separated confirmed evidence from conjecture.
  • The Hodge conjecture is one of the Millennium Prize Problems.
  • The paper gives evidence for the conjecture but no complete proof.
  • Journalists repeated the rumor as conjecture, not as fact.
  • The claim rested on conjecture rather than direct observation.

Similar words

claim
hypothesis
guess
speculation
assertion
surmise
inference
suppose
theorize
hypothesis

Meanings

Judgment without proof

noun
reasoning
neutral
An idea or judgment formed from limited evidence, plausible enough to consider but not yet proved.

Usage

Use conjecture when the point is uncertainty and the evidence is incomplete.

Examples

  • The report separated confirmed evidence from conjecture.
  • Her conjecture about the missing records later proved correct.
  • Until the archives are opened, the motive remains a matter of conjecture.
  • The claim rested on conjecture rather than direct observation.
  • His conjecture filled a gap that the data could not explain.
  • Journalists repeated the rumor as conjecture, not as fact.
  • The lawyer warned that the argument was built on conjecture.

Common mistakes

Calling a proved fact a conjecture weakens a claim that already has evidence.
IncorrectCorrect
The video is only conjecture that the door was unlocked. The video is evidence that the door was unlocked.
His conjecture was absolutely certain. His conclusion was absolutely certain.
The conjecture of the witness changed the case. The testimony of the witness changed the case.

Similar words

guess
speculation
supposition
surmise
hypothesis
assumption
inference

Form an unproved idea

verb
reasoning
neutral
To judge or suggest that something may be true from incomplete evidence.

Usage

Use conjecture for a careful guess, especially in formal writing or analysis.

Examples

  • Researchers conjecture that the object formed outside the solar system.
  • I would not conjecture about the cause without more data.
  • Several analysts conjectured that demand would fall by spring.
  • The historian conjectures a link between the two letters.
  • It is tempting to conjecture that the message was deliberate.
  • Critics conjectured from the timing that a deal was near.
  • The team could only conjecture how the error began.

Common mistakes

Using conjecture for direct knowledge makes the statement sound less certain than intended.
IncorrectCorrect
I conjecture the password because I saw it on the note. I know the password because I saw it on the note.
She conjectures every answer on the test. She guesses every answer on the test.
They conjectured about that the plan had failed. They conjectured that the plan had failed.

Similar words

guess
speculate
suppose
surmise
hypothesize
infer
theorize

Unproved mathematical proposition

noun
mathematics
technical
A mathematical statement proposed as true, often because evidence supports it, but still lacking a proof.

Usage

Use conjecture for a mathematical claim before proof, and use theorem only after proof.

Examples

  • The Goldbach conjecture says that every even integer greater than two is the sum of two primes.
  • The Collatz conjecture remains open despite simple wording.
  • Perelman proved the Poincaré conjecture in the early 2000s.
  • A new conjecture about prime gaps drew attention at the conference.
  • The paper gives evidence for the conjecture but no complete proof.
  • Several famous conjectures have guided research in number theory.
  • The Hodge conjecture is one of the Millennium Prize Problems.

Common mistakes

Calling a conjecture a theorem before proof gives it a status it does not have.
IncorrectCorrect
The Goldbach conjecture is a proved theorem. The Goldbach conjecture is still unproved.
She proved a conjecture, so it remains a conjecture. She proved a conjecture, so it became a theorem.
The Riemann hypothesis is just a random conjecture. The Riemann hypothesis is a deep mathematical conjecture supported by evidence.

Similar words

hypothesis
proposition
open problem
claim
assertion
unproved statement

Usage

Use conjecture when evidence points toward an idea but does not prove it, and contrast it with proof, fact, and theorem.

Common mistakes

A proved claim is not a conjecture, and a casual everyday guess usually sounds simpler as guess.

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin conjectura, a conclusion or interpretation, from conicere, to throw together.

FAQ

What does conjecture mean?

Conjecture means a reasoned idea or judgment made without enough evidence to prove it.

Is conjecture the same as a guess?

Conjecture is a kind of guess, but it often sounds more reasoned, formal, or analytical.

How is conjecture used as a verb?

To conjecture is to suggest that something may be true from incomplete evidence.

What is a mathematical conjecture?

A mathematical conjecture is a statement proposed as true but not yet proved.

What is the difference between a conjecture and a theorem?

A conjecture lacks proof, while a theorem has been proved from accepted assumptions.

What are common synonyms for conjecture?

Common synonyms include guess, speculation, supposition, surmise, and hypothesis.

What are common opposites of conjecture?

Common opposites include proof, fact, certainty, and, in mathematics, theorem.

Where does conjecture come from?

Conjecture comes through French and Latin from conicere, meaning to throw together.

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