speculator

/ˈspɛkjəˌleɪtər/

Other forms: speculators

A speculator is someone who takes a chance on losing a lot of money when there's a prospect of making even more money. A speculator might, for example, invest in a risky stock in the hopes she can sell it eventually at a profit.

In a way, everyone who invests in the financial market is a bit of a speculator — the possibility of losing money is always there, as is a chance (and hope) of making money. Gamblers are speculators too, hoping to win big but vulnerable to losing everything on a poker game. Less commonly, a speculator is simply someone who speculates, or guesses without enough information. The financial meaning dates from the 18th century.

Definitions of speculator

1. noun

   someone who risks losses for the possibility of considerable gains
   synonyms: plunger

   types:

   hedger

   someone who counterbalances one transaction (as a bet) against another in order to protect against loss

   operator

   a speculator who trades aggressively on stock or commodity markets

   scalper

   someone who buys something and resells it at a price far above the initial cost

   venture capitalist

   a speculator who makes money available for innovative projects (especially in high technology)

   ticket tout, tout

   someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit

   type of:

   adventurer, venturer

   a person who enjoys taking risks

   gambler

   a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
2. noun

   someone who makes conjectures without knowing the facts
   type of:

   thinker

   someone who exercises the mind (usually in an effort to reach a decision)