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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now ready for pre-sale, the Sync Oven and Sync Air Fryer exemplify an idea beyond a kitchen tool, one that replaces hesitation with clarity and guesswork with certainty. Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 According to our Homestead Experience Coordinator, these bespoke technologies were programmed just for us, maximizing the benefits of our changing climate and our reshaped biomes, all while taking the messy human guesswork out of relocation and resettlement. Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 This means a lot of guesswork as to which solar storms will produce an aurora. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025 Decisions are made faster, with greater reach and far less oversight, turning small errors into guesswork at speed and scale. Fletcher Keister, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guesswork

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guesswork was in 1725

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Cite this Entry

“Guesswork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guesswork. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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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