noun
speculator
SPEK-yuh-lay-ter/ˈspekjuleɪtər/
Someone who makes risky investments hoping for profit.
The speculator buys gold during a dip and sells after prices rise.
Etymology
An observer or investigator became someone engaged in mental speculation. When speculation gained its financial meaning, “speculator” came to name someone buying and selling for hoped-for profit from changing prices.
In context
Greenleaf was a land speculator who President Washington had just recently appointed consul to Amsterdam.
More examples
- Speculators buy oil contracts, betting on higher prices.
- A sudden drop in the stock price leaves the speculator with heavy losses.
- Currency speculators hope to profit from changes in exchange rates.
Forms
speculator · speculators
speculate verb — Make risky investments hoping for profit.
speculation noun — The practice of investing for risky gains.
Similar words
- investor
- May seek steady returns without taking unusually high risks.
- trader
- Buys and sells assets, not necessarily taking speculative risks.