certainty

[sur-tn-tee]

noun

plural

certainties 

1. the state of being certain.

   Synonyms: confidence, assurance, certitude

2. something certain; an assured fact.

   Synonyms: truth

certainty

/ ˈsɜːtəntɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being certain

2. something established as certain or inevitable

3. without doubt

Other Word Forms

• noncertainty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of certainty¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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

Synonym Study

See belief.

Example Sentences

“When the time is right, I have 100% certainty and faith that we are going to come up with something that our W fans are really going to want,” added Howard.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They still have little certainty when — or whether — they’ll ever be able to return.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One reason for the upgrade is that while tariffs continue to weigh on the economy, there is more certainty around them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"And you can't say with certainty you were in one until after the bubble has burst."

Read more on BBC

Earlier this month, TD Cowen downgraded Marvell stock, citing a lack of certainty around custom processor sales to partners like Amazon.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• confidence 
• inevitability www.thesaurus.com
• trust