guesswork

noun

guess·​work ˈges-ˌwərk How to pronounce guesswork (audio)
: work performed or results obtained by guess : conjecture

Examples of guesswork in a Sentence

Calculating the drug's long-term effects is pure guesswork.
Recent Examples on the Web This meter will give you the answer straight away without any guesswork. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 15 May 2024 Best and worst times to drive Advertisement INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, has taken the guesswork out of how to time your travel. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024 This would allow Americans to choose their foods by the numbers—rather than by guesswork or emotion—and thereby get the biggest nutritional bang for their food buck. Michelle Stacey, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024 Phoenix home featuring 6+ bathrooms, guest house sells for nearly $7M Wi-Fi analyzers take the guesswork out of determining signal strength in your home When a co-op secures a group contract, each member must decide whether to purchase solar panels for his or her home or business. Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024 Wi-Fi analyzers take the guesswork out of determining where the signal is good, great, or poor. Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2024 Take the guesswork out of getting dressed every morning with one of these lovely styles. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 5 May 2024 Thanks to the meter’s easy-to-read dial marked with wet, moist, and dry indicators, determining the moisture level requires no guesswork. Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2024 Its app has easy-to-follow audio instructions for setup that take all the guesswork out of getting connected. Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 4 May 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guesswork was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near guesswork

Cite this Entry

“Guesswork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guesswork. Accessed 23 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

guesswork

noun
guess·​work -ˌwərk How to pronounce guesswork (audio)
: work performed or results gotten by guessing

More from Merriam-Webster on guesswork

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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