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
"A Job for Valentin" and "In the Heart of a Hero"
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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:
The travel disruptions were also creating uncertainty for LAX travelers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
There is uncertainty over how De Zerbi will line up, and Senesi is at risk of being benched given Tottenham's depth at centre-back.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
He entered the race in May, injecting uncertainty into a contest that had long appeared to be Hichilema's to lose.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
So there was uncertainty at the time about whether they should be recommended for pregnant women, and if so, at what stage of gestation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle applies to more than just measurements performed by humans.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
"It all depends on what the outcome is as there are so many uncertainties of how this could look like," Spors said.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
With the Fed’s reaction function unknown, every bit of economic news and data now carries two uncertainties: what it says about the economy, and what the Fed will make of it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
But the EPA’s longstanding techniques already accounted for these uncertainties.
From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2026
But there are still uncertainties with this approach, said Max Warner from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Her entire body was invaded by millions of uncertainties.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
