guesstimate

or gues·ti·mate

[ verb ges-tuh-meyt; noun ges-tuh-mit, -meyt ]

verb (used with object)

, guess·ti·mat·ed, guess·ti·mat·ing.

1. to estimate without substantial basis in facts or statistics.

noun

1. an estimate arrived at by guesswork.

guesstimate

noun

1. an estimate calculated mainly or only by guesswork

verb

1. to form a guesstimate of

Word History and Origins

Origin of guesstimate¹

1935–40, Americanism; blend of guess and estimate

Example Sentences

For example, his opinion recounts that DA Willis kept no ledger of her reimbursements to Wade for expenses he initially paid for her, and that the amounts she claimed for those repayments were “best guesstimates.”

From Salon

The former president has largely defended his actions claiming he "never felt that these statements would be taken very seriously," and that some of the values listed were based on "guesstimates."

From Salon

He said he "never felt that these statements would be taken very seriously," and that some of the values listed were based on "guesstimates," according to The AP.

From Salon

Some of the values listed were based on “guesstimates,” he conceded.

From Washington Times

She’s now dealing with the books in her home, which she guesstimates to be around 800 — dispensing with three boxes a month.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• believe
• calculate
• divine
• fathom
• infer
• predict
• presume
• pretend
• solve
• speculate
• suggest
• suppose
• surmise
• think