uncertainty
uhn-SUR-tuhn-tee
Uncertainty (noun) means a state of doubt or lack of sureness about something. Example: “There was great uncertainty about whether the train would run in the snow.”
noun
1
A state of doubt or lack of sureness about something.
"There was great uncertainty about whether the train would run in the snow."
"He hated the uncertainty of waiting for the test results."
"The uncertainty over her diagnosis kept the whole family on edge."
2
In science and statistics, a measure of how much a value might vary or be inexact.
"The scientists reported the uncertainty alongside their results so others could judge their accuracy."
"A larger sample usually reduces the uncertainty in an average."
"The reported measurement has an uncertainty of plus or minus two millimetres."
How to use uncertainty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot knowing for sure — either in everyday life or as a technical measure of how precise a number is.
Common pairings
deal with uncertainty
a sense of uncertainty
margin of uncertainty
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Word forms
- Plural
- uncertainties
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There was great _____ about whether the train would run in the snow.
Etymology
From Middle English uncerteynte, from un- + certainty.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for uncertainty
See all rhymes for uncertainty →Frequently asked questions
What does “uncertainty” mean?
The word “uncertainty” means a state of doubt or lack of sureness about something. In plain terms, not knowing for sure — either in everyday life or as a technical measure of how precise a number is.
How do you pronounce “uncertainty”?
“Uncertainty” is pronounced uhn-SUR-tuhn-tee (/ʌnˈsɝtənti/ in IPA).
How do you use “uncertainty” in a sentence?
Here is “uncertainty” used in a sentence: “The uncertainty over her diagnosis kept the whole family on edge.”
What is another word for “uncertainty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “uncertainty” include uncertainness.
What is the opposite of “uncertainty”?
The opposite of “uncertainty” — its antonyms — are certainty and closure.
What part of speech is “uncertainty”?
“Uncertainty” is a noun.
Where does the word “uncertainty” come from?
The word “uncertainty” comes from Middle English. From Middle English uncerteynte, from un- + certainty.
Is “uncertainty” a common word?
“Uncertainty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between uncertainty and doubt?
Doubt usually implies leaning toward disbelief about a specific claim or person, while uncertainty is a broader state of simply not being sure either way. You can feel uncertainty about the future without doubting anyone in particular; doubt tends to have a target.
What is the difference between uncertainty and risk?
In economics and decision theory, risk describes situations where the outcomes are unknown but their probabilities can be estimated, while uncertainty describes situations where even the probabilities are unknown. In everyday English, though, uncertainty simply means a lack of sureness about something.
Is it correct to say uncertainties in the plural?
Yes. When uncertainty refers to the general state of doubt it is uncountable, but individual unknown factors can be counted, as in "the project still faces several uncertainties." Both uses are fully standard.
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