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 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 Today's supply chains are much more accurate because they're digitally interconnected, helping to take the guesswork out. Mark Schwartz, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 These take a lot of the guesswork out of deciding when to water. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 The smart sensors for the steam and simmer settings promise to take guesswork out of heating and reheating vegetables. Deanne Revel, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2024 Importantly, this approach removes the guesswork of what the markets will do in the short term, which is difficult if not impossible to predict with any consistency. Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2024 As for what camera will work great for beginners, go for a point-and-shoot, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of photography. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023 With its latest line of GENESIS grills, Weber is taking the guesswork out of grilling and the stress out of hosting a barbecue. Andrew Watman and Simon Nguyen, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2023

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 19 Mar. 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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