uncertainty

[uhn-sur-tn-tee]

noun

plural

uncertainties 

1. the state of being uncertain; doubt; hesitancy.

   His uncertainty gave impetus to his inquiry.

   Synonyms: ambivalence, indecision, irresolution, hesitation

2. an instance of uncertainty, doubt, etc.

3. unpredictability; indeterminacy; indefiniteness.

uncertainty

/ ʌnˈsɜːtəntɪ /

noun

1. Also called: uncertainness. the state or condition of being uncertain

2. an uncertain matter, contingency, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncertainty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English uncerteynte; equivalent to un- ¹ + certainty

Example Sentences

There were a "lot of things out there" creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, he added, pointing to risk factors like the geopolitical environment, fiscal spending and the remilitarisation of the world.

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Weeks of uncertainty followed, as British politicians and academics lobbied for her - and dozens of other Gazan students with fully-funded places - to be allowed to come to the UK.

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Retail investors, banks and wealthy families have increasingly turned to gold, viewing it as a safeguard against global economic uncertainty, he said.

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The uncertainty has left JPL’s future in limbo while it awaits an answer, top officials said.

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A shutdown also injects new uncertainty into an economy already being roiled by changes ranging from tariffs, earlier cuts to government spending, immigration raids and artificial intelligence.

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Related Words

• ambiguity 
• ambivalence 
• anxiety 
• concern 
• confusion 
• distrust 
• mistrust 
• skepticism 
• suspicion 
• trouble 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com
• unpredictability www.thesaurus.com
• worry