uncertainty
Americannoun
plural
uncertainties-
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
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
"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.
“Lots of people want to buy a house, especially Millennials and Gen Z, but there’s so much uncertainty over mortgage rates and cost of living that they’re being picky.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
Amid heightened uncertainty, he said he would aim to maintain price and financial stability—core mandates of the Bank of Korea—while supporting steady growth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Without access to a gym and team sessions, and with uncertainty over her playing future, Kildunne focused on running, searching out faster courses to try and improve her times over certain distances.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
There is, however, some uncertainty around the March PCE inflation print, in part, because the Bureau of Economic Analysis shifted its source of legal services pricing.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
The uncertainty alone felt like a threat, a thing that could drown us.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions 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.
