Certainty is the state of being definite or of having no doubts at all about something.
I have told them with absolute certainty there'll be no change of policy.
If you buy from reputable dealers you have more certainty about what you're getting. [+ about]
Synonyms: confidence, trust, faith, conviction More Synonyms of certainty
2. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
Certainty is the fact that something is certain to happen.
A general election became a certainty three weeks ago.
...the certainty of more violence and bloodshed. [+ of]
I began to realize the certainty of freezing to death if I remained where I was.
Synonyms: fact, truth, reality, sure thing [informal] More Synonyms of certainty
3. countable noun [usually plural]
Certainties are things that nobody has any doubts about.
There are no certainties in modern Europe.
The collapse of old certainties is reshaping the political parties.
More Synonyms of certainty
certainty in British English
(ˈsɜːtəntɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
the condition of being certain
2.
something established as certain or inevitable
3. for a certainty
certainty in American English
(ˈsɜrtənti)
noun
1.
the quality, state, or fact of being certain
2. Word forms: pluralˈcertainties
anything certain; definite act
Idioms:
of a certainty
SYNONYMY NOTE: certainty suggests a firm, settled belief or positiveness in the truth of something; , certitude is sometimes distinguished from the preceding as implying an absence of objectiveproof, hence suggesting unassailable blind faith; , assurance suggests confidence, but not necessarily positiveness, usually in something thatis yet to happen [I have assurance of his continuing support]; conviction suggests a being convinced because of satisfactory reasons or proof and sometimesimplies earlier doubt
OPPOSITES: doubt, skepticism
Word origin
ME certeinte < OFr certaineté
Examples of 'certainty' in a sentence
certainty
There is no such certainty about the fourth match on the coupons.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The book was a howl against the certainty of death.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was clear that some people required a certainty that was impossible.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has certainly raised more doubts than certainties in my mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The group has always had this kind of monolithic certainty about what we were doing.
The Sun (2007)
She is facing the certainty of death within a relationship that is in crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rise reflects nostalgia for the old certainties.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It gives people certainty and peace of mind going into their marriage.
The Sun (2010)
So the only certainty about these serious infections is that the risk needs to be taken seriously.
The Sun (2010)
It is an absolute mathematical certainty.
The Sun (2016)
Instead of certainty there was doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But others are an absolute certainty.
The Sun (2014)
What we need is the Government to get this absolutely right and to provide certainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When scientific probabilities collide with the political need for certainties, the results are always clumsy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
On this, there is a great deal of certainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The Government must provide stability and certainty on motoring taxes.
The Sun (2011)
Second, it is a matter of political certainty that all the leaders genuinely want to save the world from the present crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So we can prepare with great certainty for winning the World Cup.
The Sun (2014)
Quotations
In this world nothing is certain but death and taxesBenjamin Franklin
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certaintiesFrancis BaconThe Advancement of Learning
In other languages
certainty
British English: certainty /ˈsɜːtntɪ/ NOUN
Certainty is the state of having no doubts at all.
`He'll lose the match,' she said, with absolute certainty.
American English: certainty
Arabic: يَقِيـن
Brazilian Portuguese: certeza
Chinese: 确定
Croatian: izvjesnost
Czech: jistota
Danish: sikkerhed
Dutch: zekerheid
European Spanish: certeza
Finnish: varmuus
French: certitude
German: Gewissheit
Greek: βεβαιότητα
Italian: certezza
Japanese: 確実なこと
Korean: 확실성
Norwegian: visshet
Polish: pewność
European Portuguese: certeza
Romanian: certitudine
Russian: определенность
Latin American Spanish: certeza
Swedish: säkerhet
Thai: ความแน่นอน
Turkish: kesinlik
Ukrainian: впевненість
Vietnamese: sự chắc chắn
Chinese translation of 'certainty'
certainty
(ˈsəːtəntɪ)
n
(u) (= assurance) 确(確)定 (quèdìng)
(c/u) (= inevitability) 必然的事 (bìrán de shì) (件, jiàn)
all that can be said with certainty is that ... 唯一确(確)定无(無)疑的是 ... (wéiyī quèdìng wúyí de shì ... )
there is no certainty that ... 不能肯定 ... (bùnéng kěndìng ... )
there are never any certainties从(從)来(來)都没(沒)有必然的事 (cónglái dōu méiyǒu bìrán de shì)
1 (noun)
Definition
the condition of being certain
I have said with absolute certainty that there will be no change of policy.
Synonyms
confidence
I have every confidence in you.
trust
There's a feeling of warmth and trust here.
faith
She had placed a great deal of faith in him.
conviction
He preaches with conviction.
assurance
He led the orchestra with assurance.
certitude
I cannot say with any degree of certitude what will happen next.
sureness
positiveness
authoritativeness
indubitableness
Opposites
doubt
,
uncertainty
,
disbelief
,
scepticism
,
qualm
,
indecision
,
unsureness
2 (noun)
Definition
something established as inevitable
There is too little certainty about the outcome yet.
Synonyms
inevitability
Success is an inevitability for us.
Opposites
uncertainty
3 (noun)
Definition
something established as inevitable
A general election became a certainty three weeks ago.
Synonyms
fact
How much was fact and how much fancy no one knew.
truth
It's a universal truth that we all die eventually.
reality
Fiction and reality were increasingly blurred.
sure thing (informal)
surety
banker
Quotations
In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes [Benjamin Franklin]If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties [Francis Bacon – The Advancement of Learning]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assurance
Definition
feeling of confidence
He led the orchestra with assurance.
Synonyms
confidence,
conviction,
courage,
certainty,
self-confidence,
poise,
assertiveness,
security,
faith,
coolness,
nerve,
aplomb,
boldness,
self-reliance,
firmness,
self-assurance,
certitude,
sureness,
self-possession,
positiveness,
assuredness
in the sense of certitude
Definition
confidence or certainty
I cannot say with any degree of certitude what will happen next.