Legal Definitions - conjecture

Conjecture refers to an opinion, conclusion, or statement that is based on incomplete information, speculation, or guesswork, rather than on solid facts, evidence, or logical deduction. In legal settings, arguments or decisions cannot be founded solely on conjecture because the legal system demands proof and factual support.

• Example 1: Courtroom Testimony

  During a criminal trial, a witness testifies that they "conjecture the defendant was angry because of how quickly they left the room," even though the witness did not hear any argument or see any specific signs of anger. The witness is merely guessing at the defendant's emotional state based on a brief observation.

  This illustrates conjecture because the witness is offering a personal interpretation or guess about the defendant's feelings without any direct evidence or factual basis to support it. Their statement is a supposition, not a verifiable fact.

• Example 2: Business Contract Negotiations

  A company's sales team decides to offer a significantly lower price for a product to a potential client, based on their conjecture that the client is experiencing financial difficulties, even though the client has not communicated any such issues and their public financial reports show stability.

  This demonstrates conjecture because the sales team is making a significant business decision based on an unverified assumption about the client's financial situation, rather than on confirmed information or direct communication.

• Example 3: Accident Investigation

  Following a minor car accident, a bystander tells the police, "I conjecture the driver of the blue car was distracted by their phone," simply because they saw the driver glance down briefly before the collision, without any actual evidence like phone records, witness accounts of phone use, or admissions from the driver.

  This is an example of conjecture because the bystander is forming an opinion about the cause of the accident based on a fleeting observation and an assumption, rather than on concrete evidence that the driver was actually using their phone at the moment of impact.