Assumptive

An adjective describing someone or something that operates based on assumptions rather than proven facts or direct evidence. It implies taking things for granted, leaping to conclusions, and potentially making incorrect judgments due to a lack of verification. This can manifest in a variety of behaviors, from conversational presumptions to organizational strategies, highlighting a need for critical thinking and fact-checking to avoid misinterpretations and errors. The degree to which an assumption is unwarranted defines the level of 'assumptiveness.'

Assumptive meaning with examples

• The marketing team's campaign was overly assumptive; they hadn't conducted any market research and simply guessed what the target audience wanted. This resulted in a costly campaign that failed to resonate with consumers and ultimately, a significant loss in sales for the company. Their entire strategy rested on unverified assumptions and led to failure.
• He was assumptive in his evaluation of her skills, immediately concluding she lacked the necessary experience without reviewing her resume or speaking to her. His quick judgment, rooted in a bias towards recent graduates, proved inaccurate. Later, it came to light that she had a wealth of transferable experience.
• The judge's assumptive questioning made it seem as though he already believed the defendant was guilty, even before the defense had presented its case. His line of questioning, designed to establish an unproven truth, demonstrated a clear bias that could have had a negative effect on the trial outcome. This raised concerns for fairness.
• The new project plan was dangerously assumptive. It built upon several unverified assumptions regarding resource availability and project timeline which eventually delayed the launch date. These assumptions, with the lack of due diligence, would negatively impact deadlines and costs.