Uncertainty: meaning, definitions and examples

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uncertainty

 

[ ʌnˈsɜːrtənti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of doubt

Uncertainty is the state of being unsure about something. It involves a lack of confidence or knowledge in a particular situation. Uncertainty can lead to anxiety and indecision.

Synonyms

ambiguity, doubt, indecision

Examples of usage

  • I'm feeling uncertainty about my future career path.
  • The uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the election is causing tension.
  • She hesitated due to the uncertainty of the situation.
Context #2 | Noun

lack of predictability

Uncertainty can also refer to the lack of predictability in a situation. It means that the outcome is not known or cannot be determined with confidence.

Synonyms

instability, unpredictability, volatility

Examples of usage

  • The stock market is facing uncertainty due to global economic conditions.
  • We are living in a time of great uncertainty.

Translations

Translations of the word "uncertainty" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incerteza

🇮🇳 अनिश्चितता

🇩🇪 Unsicherheit

🇮🇩 ketidakpastian

🇺🇦 невизначеність

🇵🇱 niepewność

🇯🇵 不確実性

🇫🇷 incertitude

🇪🇸 incertidumbre

🇹🇷 belirsizlik

🇰🇷 불확실성

🇸🇦 عدم اليقين

🇨🇿 nejistota

🇸🇰 neistota

🇨🇳 不确定性

🇸🇮 negotovost

🇮🇸 óvissa

🇰🇿 белгісіздік

🇬🇪 უცნობობა

🇦🇿 qeyri-müəyyənlik

🇲🇽 incertidumbre

Etymology

The word 'uncertainty' originated from the Latin word 'incertitudo', which means 'doubt' or 'not being sure'. The concept of uncertainty has been studied in various fields such as philosophy, economics, and psychology. It plays a significant role in decision-making and risk assessment.

See also: certain, certainly, certainty, uncertain, uncertainly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,670, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.