Alternative forms

• certainity (chiefly India)

Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#CERTAINTYCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#CERTAINTY certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-NormanCategory:English terms derived from Anglo-Norman#CERTAINTY certeinte, from Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#CERTAINTY certeinete, from Vulgar LatinCategory:English terms derived from Vulgar Latin#CERTAINTY *certānitās, from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#CERTAINTY certus.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɝtn̩ti/Category:English 3-syllable words#CERTAINTYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CERTAINTY

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#CERTAINTY
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜːtn̩ti/Category:English 3-syllable words#CERTAINTYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#CERTAINTY
• Hyphenation: cer‧tain‧ty

Noun

certainty (countable and uncountable, plural certainties)Category:English lemmas#CERTAINTYCategory:English nouns#CERTAINTYCategory:English uncountable nouns#CERTAINTYCategory:English countable nouns#CERTAINTYCategory:English countable nouns#CERTAINTYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#CERTAINTYCategory:Pages with entries#CERTAINTYCategory:Pages with 1 entry#CERTAINTY

1. The state of being certain.

   Synonyms: certitude, sureness

   Antonyms: doubt, uncertainty

   with certaintyCategory:English terms with collocations#CERTAINTY

   moral certaintyCategory:English terms with collocations#CERTAINTY

   absolute certaintyCategory:English terms with collocations#CERTAINTY

   She spoke with complete certainty.Category:English terms with usage examples#CERTAINTY

   There is no certainty that the plan will succeed.Category:English terms with usage examples#CERTAINTY

   • 1720, Samuel Fancourt, “The Remarker's second Objection produced and examined”, in An Essay Concerning Certainty and Infallibility: Or, Some Reflections Upon a Pamphlet Stiled, “The Nature and Consequences of Enthusiasm Considered, in Some Short Remarks on the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity Stated and Defended.” In a Letter to the Author of Those Remarks‎, London: R. Cruttenden, page 35:

     That there may be Certainty upon an infallible Evidence in Matters of Science, I readily grant you. But since there once were Scepticks in Philosophy as well as Religion, such as doubted of every thing, I very much question, whether the whole World be agreed in this Point; unless you could assure me, that Race of Seekers is now extinct.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CERTAINTY

   • October 12, 1786, Fisher Ames, “Lucius Junius Brutus”, in Independent Chronicle:

     The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CERTAINTY

2. An instance of being certain.
3. A fact or truth unquestionably established.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sure thing

   • 1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume I, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC:

     Certainties are uninteresting and sating.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CERTAINTY

   • 1895, Alexander Robinson, chapter XXI, in The Saviour in the Newer Light: A Present Day Study of Jesus Christ‎, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood & Sons, page 337:

     There is a certainty attainable. A certainty of feeling will arise through the very contemplation of Jesus. But there is also attainable a certainty of Reason.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CERTAINTY

   • November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk‎:

     Yet the truth is that City would probably have been coasting by that point if the referee, Michael Oliver, had not turned down three separate penalties, at least two of which could be accurately described as certainties.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CERTAINTY

Further reading

• certainty on Wikipedia.Wikipedia