uncertainty
Americannoun
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uncertainties
plural
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the state of being uncertain; doubt; hesitancy.
His uncertainty gave impetus to his inquiry.
- Synonyms:
- ambivalence, indecision, irresolution, hesitation
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an instance of uncertainty, doubt, etc.
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unpredictability; indeterminacy; indefiniteness.
noun
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Also called: uncertainness. the state or condition of being uncertain
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an uncertain matter, contingency, etc
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of uncertainty
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English uncerteynte; equivalent to un- 1 + certainty
Explanation
When you have uncertainty, that means you're not really sure. If you missed a lot of classes and didn't study much, you may have uncertainty about whether you passed your big math test. The noun uncertainty describes a state of doubt. You might view with uncertainty a claim that a $100 investment will return $500 by next month. Uncertainty can also involve being dependent on chance. Your uncle might have uncertainty that he'll have a job next year because his company might be closing one of its branch offices.
Vocabulary lists containing uncertainty
un-
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"A Job for Valentin" and "In the Heart of a Hero"
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un-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Amid such uncertainty, faith offers a sense of comfort and protection lacking in everyday life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Meteorologists said Friday they were observing an unprecedented early disruption of the polar vortex, raising the risk of cold snaps across the Northern Hemisphere, though there remains significant uncertainty.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Chip stocks were bouncing, but the uncertainty around future data-center spending probably isn’t going away, and he said that could keep stocks volatile for some time.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
Meanwhile, uncertainty also looms over Gibran, Jokowi's son, who is mired in a growing controversy over the validity of his high school credentials, a pre-requisite to run for vice presidency.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
I thought back to my darker days after college when I battled depression and uncertainty, unable to find a job in the corporate world like my friends.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Experts, meanwhile, say all this has distracted from the more pressing challenges that Indonesians are facing on the ground - from economic uncertainties to environmental pollution.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
BII still believes in the transformative potential of AI, but questions whether capital spending can be justified by future revenues and returns and if current valuations reflect those uncertainties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Apple once again showed that it’s not immune to problems plaguing the broader technology sector, as lingering supply-chain uncertainties helped outweigh strength in the company’s iPhone business.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Little uncertainties have a way of making people uncomfortable.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
They would offer Wolf protection, a new life away from the uncertainties and risks of post-communist Germany.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
