Guesstimate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in informal situations when giving an estimate based on both guesswork and some known information. It can imply a lack of precision.

• He just made a guesstimate of the total cost.
• I can guesstimate how much time we'll need.

Best for general contexts where a close but not exact figure is needed, often to give a rough but reasonable idea of a quantity or value.

• The approximate time of arrival is 8 PM.
• We need an approximate count of attendees.

Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, used when giving a calculated guess based on available information or data. It often suggests a more careful calculation than 'guesstimate'.

• Can you estimate the cost of this project?
• We need to estimate how much material we will need.

Useful in situations where you need to do a quick calculation, with an understanding that it may not be very precise.

• I can roughly calculate the distance from here to there.
• We need to roughly calculate the budget before proceeding.

Used when you need to estimate something quickly and informally, where precision is less important. It often implies a guess that is not based on much data.

• I don't have the exact number of attendees, but my guesstimate would be around a hundred

Used when you need to provide a quick and not precise estimate, which is clear to all parties that it is very approximate.

• This is just a rough estimate, but we might need about three weeks to complete the project

Used when an estimate is needed to give a general sense or rough idea. It is often used in business contexts where a non-precise number is acceptable for preliminary discussions.

• Can you give me a ballpark figure of how much the new building might cost?

Used when you need to convey the idea of being close to an exact number or value without being precise. It generally suggests a somewhat higher level of accuracy than a guess.

• The approximation of the cost for the new project is around $20,000