Is conjecture formal or informal?

What is the difference between conjecture and guess?

How do I use conjecture in an academic sentence?

Is conjecture common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

conjecture

/kənˈdʒɛktʃə/

IELTSAcademic

noun

An opinion or guess formed with some information, not certain proof.

His conjecture proved wrong after more data came in.
We made an educated conjecture based on the trends.

verb

To guess or propose something without full proof.

The scientist conjectured that the planet could support life.
They conjectured an earlier origin for the artifact.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: 'conjecture' is less certain than 'inference' and more tentative than 'hypothesis'; it suits exploratory discussion. It differs from 'guess' in sounding more formal and evidential. Writers choose it when they want a cautious, reasoned proposal.

In other languages

Spanish: Conjetura / Hipótesis
Japanese: 推測／仮説
Korean: 추측／가설
Vietnamese: Giả thuyết / Sự dự đoán
Chinese: 猜想／假设

Common phrases

working conjectureform a conjecturetest the conjecture

Synonyms

guess estimate surmise hypothesis theory

Frequently asked questions

Is conjecture formal or informal?: Is conjecture formal or informal?
What is the difference between conjecture and guess?: What is the difference between conjecture and guess?
How do I use conjecture in an academic sentence?: How do I use conjecture in an academic sentence?
Is conjecture common in academic writing?: Is conjecture common in academic writing?