speculator

American  

[spek-yuh-ley-ter] / ˈspɛk yəˌleɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who is engaged in commercial or financial speculation.

2. a person who makes advance purchases of tickets, as to games or theatrical performances, that are likely to be in demand, for resale later at a higher price.

3. a person who is devoted to mental speculation.

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speculator British  

/ ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a person who speculates

2. rugby an undirected kick of the ball

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Etymology

Origin of speculator

1545–55; < Latin speculātor explorer, equivalent to speculā ( rī ) to watch over, explore, reconnoiter ( speculate ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Hedge funds and other speculators are positioning for further gains, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission data.

From The Wall Street Journal

"He's a speculator, he buys and sells," they told me.

From BBC

As traders hang on every headline and speculators propel huge price swings that ripple through markets, Yawger added, “Where’s the line between fantasy and reality? It’s hard to say.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In both cases, speculators pounced on a rare and profitable pricing anomaly that can’t last for very long.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their surging popularity has sparked waves of concern over allegations of insider trading—and how speculators have hit it big on macabre wagers over war, death and crime.

From The Wall Street Journal