informed guess

Reasoned but uncertain

An informed guess is a prediction or estimate based on relevant knowledge or experience rather than pure speculation.

Where a wild guess might be random, an informed guess draws on available evidence: I don't know exactly when she'll arrive, but my informed guess is around six.

The phrase acknowledges uncertainty while claiming some basis for the conclusion.

Related

risk assessment · hypothesis testing · inference · connect the dots · precedent · observation · probability · playing the odds · glance · patterns · evaluation · context · reasoning · working theory · rule of thumb · back-of-envelope · estimation · rough estimate

Opposites
epistemic basis

informed guesswild guess

Uninformed speculation attempt

blind guess · random guess · shot in the dark · stab in the dark · uneducated guess

certainty level

informed guesscertainty

Total absence of doubt

known quantity · absolute certainty · empirical evidence · hard evidence

Family

informed, guess, inform, informs, informing, informer, informers, information, informational

Familiarity
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Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G