Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Late 20th century ·1934
Guesstimate
guess estimate
- Meaning
- A rough estimate that admits it's closer to a guess.
- Source words
- guess + estimate
- Coined by
- American statisticians
- Year
- 1934
Background
A self-deprecating professional coinage — a way to signal "this number is indicative, not precise." Entered general business English by the 1970s.
Late 20th century
Marketing, media, and the early internet. Infomercial, emoticon, workaholic — the coinages name phenomena of mass media and white-collar life. Several predate the decades they're associated with.
Two words, one coinage.
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