certainty

American  

[sur-tn-tee] / ˈsɜr tn ti /

noun

plural

certainties

1. the state of being certain.

   Synonyms:

   confidence, assurance, certitude

2. something certain; an assured fact.

   Synonyms:

   truth

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idioms

1. for / of a certainty, certainly; without a doubt.

   I suspect it, but I don't know it for a certainty.

certainty British  

/ ˈsɜːtəntɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being certain

2. something established as certain or inevitable

3. without doubt

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Related Words

See belief.

Other Word Forms

• noncertainty noun

Etymology

Origin of certainty

1250–1300; Middle English certeinte < Anglo-French, equivalent to certein certain + -te -ty ²

Example Sentences

But with so many candidates already in the race, a runoff is a “mathematical certainty,” said Douglas Herman, a Bass spokesperson.

From Los Angeles Times

The South African government also said it was "concerned by the short nature of the extension" and called for a deal "that will provide certainty around investment and purchasing decisions".

From Barron's

He told BBC Scotland News he had concerns that it could be arbitrary, inflexible and in some cases "very difficult to establish with any great degree of certainty".

From BBC

He added from CCTV, he was able to say "with some certainty" the time between Xielo entering the water and Nicole reaching the same point was between "five to six seconds".

From BBC

BlueScope hadn’t provided shareholders with an alternative strategy that could provide the same certainty of a similar return to its offer with SGH, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• confidence
• inevitability
• trust