on spec
The phrase "on spec" originates from the term 'speculation,' implying an action taken with the hope of a successful outcome but without any guarantees.
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Definition
B2Creative Work
(informal)Creating content without a specific order, hoping it will be bought or accepted later.
Example
- She wrote the article on spec, hoping a magazine would publish it.
- The photographer took the pictures on spec, aiming to sell them to a travel agency.
B2Business
(informal)Producing goods or services without a confirmed buyer, expecting to sell them afterward.
Example
- The company built the houses on spec, expecting to find buyers once they were completed.
- He developed the software on spec, hoping a startup would purchase it.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on spec":