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 Amid an uncertain global regulatory landscape on AI, companies are moving forward with their plans to build and deploy AI, and CIOs have been combining their best practices around customer data with a bit of guesswork to make AI applications regulatory friendly, reports the Wall Street Journal. John Kell, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024 To take out all the guesswork, the dropper automatically fills to the correct amount every time it’s sealed, ready for the next application. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 This feature takes away a lot of the guesswork of buying unique stationery, making the process easy and satisfying for customers. Brianna Kamienski, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 So estimates of the wounded from both sides are extrapolated from the number of dead, which already involves significant guesswork. Milana Mazaeva, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 If the moment-to-moment meaning of the scene sometimes requires guesswork, the love story at the heart of the tale is achingly clear. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 This nifty little thing conveniently takes the guesswork out of caring for plants, and puts a scientific approach right in your hands. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2024 Apart from taking the guesswork out of getting dressed, sticky silicone bras are so easy to apply, clean, and reuse. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 Data entry and data entry typing tests can help take the guesswork out of hiring. Eric Friedman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 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 26 Apr. 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

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