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

The Hostages Families Forum said the return of their bodies "brings some measure of comfort to families who have lived with agonising uncertainty and doubt for over two years".

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"But I think it's a very useful reminder that we live in a world in which this kind of increase in trade tensions, increase in policy uncertainty, can flare up at any time."

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Prolonged uncertainty over trade policy is, in the Fund's view, likely to weigh on business investment decisions and cloud growth prospects, while fragmenting supply chains over the medium term.

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The IMF’s advice to policymakers gathering for the annual IMF/World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C., this week: For more sustainable growth, reduce uncertainty, especially on trade, address fiscal vulnerabilities and invest in innovation.

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The first is that partisanship leads to greater economic uncertainty, reducing the probability that a corporation’s capital investment will pay off.

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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