uncertainty
HighFormal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
The state of being unsure, not known, or not definite; a lack of certainty.
A situation characterized by doubt, unpredictability, and potential instability, often leading to anxiety or the need for careful planning. In scientific contexts, it can refer to the margin of error in a measurement or prediction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often refers to abstract situations, future events, or emotions. It can be a countable noun (uncertainties) referring to specific unknown factors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative, associated with risk and instability in both contexts.
Frequency
Equally common and high-frequency in both UK and US English, particularly in news, business, and academic writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
uncertainty about/over sthuncertainty surrounding sthuncertainty as to wh-clauseuncertainty in sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A leap in the dark”
- “Up in the air”
- “Hang in the balance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market volatility, unpredictable economic conditions, and risks affecting investment and planning.
Academic
Used in discussions of probability, statistical models, epistemological doubt, and qualitative research limitations.
Everyday
Describes personal doubts about plans, feelings, or outcomes (e.g., job prospects, health).
Technical
In physics and engineering, denotes the quantitative measure of error or lack of precision in a result.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new policy will likely uncertain the market further.
- The data fails to uncertain our initial hypothesis.
American English
- The new policy will likely make the market more uncertain.
- The data does not cast uncertainty on our initial hypothesis.
adverb
British English
- He looked around uncertainly before answering.
- The project is proceeding uncertainly due to funding issues.
American English
- He looked around uncertainly before responding.
- The project is moving ahead uncertainly due to funding issues.
adjective
British English
- The uncertain weather postponed the garden party.
- We are in an uncertain period regarding the negotiations.
American English
- The uncertain weather delayed the barbecue.
- We are in a period of uncertainty regarding the negotiations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is some uncertainty about the meeting time.
- I feel uncertainty when I travel to a new place.
- The economic uncertainty is making people worried about jobs.
- Her answer removed all uncertainty about the plan.
- The uncertainty surrounding the election results caused market volatility.
- Scientific measurements always include a degree of experimental uncertainty.
- The ontological uncertainty of the narrator's account challenges the reader's perception.
- Quantum mechanics introduced a fundamental uncertainty into our description of nature.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
UN-CERTAIN-TY: Think of the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') + 'certain' (sure) + '-ty' (a state). It's the state of NOT being sure.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNCERTAINTY IS A CLOUD / FOG (obscuring clarity), UNCERTAINTY IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (causing instability).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'неуверенность' (lack of confidence) only; broader meaning is 'неопределенность' or 'сомнение'.
- Countable use 'uncertainties' (конкретные неопределенности) is common and may be missed.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'uncertainly' (adverb) instead of 'uncertainty' (noun).
- Misspelling as 'uncertanty'.
- Using with wrong preposition (e.g., 'uncertainty for' instead of 'uncertainty about').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'uncertainty' used in a technical, quantitative sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily uncountable (e.g., 'There is great uncertainty'). However, the plural form 'uncertainties' is common when referring to specific unknown factors (e.g., 'the uncertainties of life').
'Doubt' often implies active disbelief or scepticism about a specific fact or claim. 'Uncertainty' is a broader state of not knowing, often about a future outcome or a complex situation, and is less tied to active suspicion.
Rarely. It is generally neutral or negative, associated with risk and instability. However, in contexts like creativity or open-ended possibilities, it can be framed more neutrally (e.g., 'the exciting uncertainty of a new venture').
The strongest collocates are often adjectives like 'economic', 'political', 'great', 'considerable', and verbs like 'create', 'cause', 'reduce', and 'face'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Abstract Thinking
B2 · 49 words · Words for ideas, reasoning and intellectual concepts.