guestimate
Definition
Noun: An approximate calculation or judgment, formed by blending logical reasoning with intuition or conjecture. It is an informal term for an estimate made when precise data is unavailable.
Usage
A "guestimate" is used in informal contexts when a rough, quick approximation is needed or acceptable. It acknowledges that the figure is not based solely on hard data but incorporates an element of educated guesswork.
Examples
- We need a guestimate of the crowd size for ordering enough food.
- Can you give me a guestimate of how long the repair will take?
- His budget was more of a guestimate than a detailed financial plan.
Advanced Usage
- To make/take a guestimate: To form such an approximate calculation.
- Without the sales reports, I can only make a guestimate for next quarter's revenue.
- Used to explicitly signal the informal and approximate nature of a provided figure.
- This timeline is just a guestimate; things could change.
Variants and Related Words
- Guesstimate (Verb): To form such an approximate calculation.
- I'd guesstimate the weight to be about 20 pounds.
- Estimate (Noun/Verb): A more formal or calculated approximation, though often used interchangeably in casual speech.
- Ballpark figure (Noun Phrase): A rough numerical estimate.
Synonyms
- Approximation
- Rough estimate
- Ballpark figure
- Conjecture (when used as a noun for an opinion formed on incomplete information)
Notes on Meaning
This word is a portmanteau, blending "guess" and "estimate." Its primary meaning is the noun form described above. The verb form ("to guesstimate") is a direct derivation from the noun. The spelling "guestimate" is more common, though "guesstimate" is also widely accepted.
Noun
-
an estimate that combines reasoning with guessing
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