"certainty" meaning in English

See certainty in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈsɝtn̩ti/ [General-American], /ˈsɜːtn̩ti/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: en-us-certainty.ogg [US] Forms: certainties [plural]
Etymology: From Middle English certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-Norman certeinte, from Old French certeinete, from Vulgar Latin *certānitās, from Latin certus. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|certeynte||surety}} Middle English certeynte (“surety”), {{der|en|xno|certeinte}} Anglo-Norman certeinte, {{der|en|fro|certeinete}} Old French certeinete, {{der|en|VL.|*certānitās}} Vulgar Latin *certānitās, {{der|en|la|certus}} Latin certus Head templates: {{en-noun|~}} certainty (countable and uncountable, plural certainties)
  1. The state of being certain. Tags: countable, uncountable Synonyms: certitude, sureness Translations (state of being certain): يَقِين (yaqīn) [masculine] (Arabic), пэ́ўнасць (péŭnascʹ) [feminine] (Belarusian), упэ́ўненасць (upéŭnjenascʹ) [feminine] (Belarusian), уве́реност (uvérenost) [feminine] (Bulgarian), си́гурност (sígurnost) [feminine] (Bulgarian), certesa [feminine] (Catalan), 確信 (Chinese Mandarin), 确信 (quèxìn) (Chinese Mandarin), jistota [feminine] (Czech), sikkerhed [common-gender] (Danish), zekerheid [feminine] (Dutch), certeco (Esperanto), kindlus (Estonian), varmuus (Finnish), certitude [feminine] (French), certeza [feminine] (Galician), certidume [feminine] (Galician), Gewissheit [feminine] (German), 𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌸𐍃 (astaþs) [feminine] (Gothic), βεβαιότητα (vevaiótita) [feminine] (Greek), וַדָּאוּת (vada'út) [feminine] (Hebrew), यक़ीन (yaqīn) [masculine] (Hindi), निश्चय (niścay) [masculine] (Hindi), bizonyosság (Hungarian), cinnteacht [feminine] (Irish), dearfacht [feminine] (Irish), deimhneacht [feminine] (Irish), deimhin (Irish), deimhne [feminine] (Irish), certezza [feminine] (Italian), 確信 (kakushin) (alt: かくしん) [feminine] (Japanese), kabitasan (Kapampangan), 확신 (hwaksin) (alt: 確信) (Korean), certum [neuter] (Latin), certitūdō [feminine] (Latin), noteiktība [feminine] (Latvian), tikrumas [masculine] (Lithuanian), сигурност (sigurnost) [feminine] (Macedonian), sikkerhet [feminine, masculine] (Norwegian Bokmål), visshet [feminine, masculine] (Norwegian Bokmål), certesa [feminine] (Occitan), certitud [feminine] (Occitan), یقین (yaqin) (Persian), pewność [feminine] (Polish), certeza [feminine] (Portuguese), certitudine [feminine] (Romanian), siguranță [feminine] (Romanian), уве́ренность (uvérennostʹ) [feminine] (Russian), cinnt [feminine] (Scottish Gaelic), и̏звесно̄ст [Cyrillic, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), и̏звјесно̄ст [Cyrillic, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), сигу́рно̄ст [Cyrillic, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), ȉzvesnōst [Roman, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), ȉzvjesnōst [Roman, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), sigúrnōst [Roman, feminine] (Serbo-Croatian), istota [feminine] (Slovak), gotovost [feminine] (Slovene), certeza [feminine] (Spanish), visshet [common-gender] (Swedish), säkerhet [common-gender] (Swedish), katiyakan (Tagalog), яқин (yaqin) (Tajik), пе́вність (pévnistʹ) [feminine] (Ukrainian), впе́вненість (vpévnenistʹ) [feminine] (Ukrainian), یَقِین (yaqīn) [masculine] (Urdu)
    Sense id: en-certainty-en-noun-E1QJ1qEz Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 72 18 10 Disambiguation of 'state of being certain': 78 21 2
  2. An instance of being certain. Tags: countable, uncountable
    Sense id: en-certainty-en-noun-gk-rTPtY
  3. A fact or truth unquestionably established. Tags: countable, uncountable Synonyms: sure thing
    Sense id: en-certainty-en-noun-VUuxuKxZ
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: certainty equivalent, legal certainty, moral certainty, of a certainty, racing certainty Related terms: certain

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for certainty meaning in English (13.3kB)

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "certainty equivalent"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "legal certainty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "moral certainty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "of a certainty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "racing certainty"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "certeynte",
        "4": "",
        "5": "surety"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English certeynte (“surety”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "certeinte"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman certeinte",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "certeinete"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French certeinete",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "VL.",
        "3": "*certānitās"
      },
      "expansion": "Vulgar Latin *certānitās",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "certus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin certus",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-Norman certeinte, from Old French certeinete, from Vulgar Latin *certānitās, from Latin certus.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "certainties",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "certainty (countable and uncountable, plural certainties)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "cer‧tain‧ty"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "certain"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "doubt"
        },
        {
          "word": "uncertainty"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "72 18 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "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",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "October 12, 1786, Fisher Ames, “Lucius Junius Brutus”, in Independent Chronicle",
          "text": "The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The state of being certain."
      ],
      "id": "en-certainty-en-noun-E1QJ1qEz",
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "certitude"
        },
        {
          "word": "sureness"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "yaqīn",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "يَقِين"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "roman": "péŭnascʹ",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "пэ́ўнасць"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "roman": "upéŭnjenascʹ",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "упэ́ўненасць"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "uvérenost",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "уве́реност"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "sígurnost",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "си́гурност"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certesa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "確信"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "quèxìn",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "确信"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "jistota"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "sikkerhed"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "zekerheid"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "certeco"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "et",
          "lang": "Estonian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "kindlus"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "varmuus"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certitude"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certeza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certidume"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Gewissheit"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "got",
          "lang": "Gothic",
          "roman": "astaþs",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌸𐍃"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "vevaiótita",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "βεβαιότητα"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "vada'út",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "וַדָּאוּת"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "roman": "yaqīn",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "यक़ीन"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "roman": "niścay",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "निश्चय"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "bizonyosság"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "cinnteacht"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "dearfacht"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "deimhneacht"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "deimhin"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "deimhne"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certezza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "alt": "かくしん",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "kakushin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "確信"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "pam",
          "lang": "Kapampangan",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "kabitasan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "alt": "確信",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "hwaksin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "확신"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "certum"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certitūdō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "lv",
          "lang": "Latvian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "noteiktība"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "lt",
          "lang": "Lithuanian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "tikrumas"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "sigurnost",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "сигурност"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "nb",
          "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sikkerhet"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "nb",
          "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "visshet"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "oc",
          "lang": "Occitan",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certesa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "oc",
          "lang": "Occitan",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certitud"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "yaqin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "یقین"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "pewność"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certeza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certitudine"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "siguranță"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "uvérennostʹ",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "уве́ренность"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "gd",
          "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "cinnt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Cyrillic",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "и̏звесно̄ст"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Cyrillic",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "и̏звјесно̄ст"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Cyrillic",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "сигу́рно̄ст"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Roman",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "ȉzvesnōst"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Roman",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "ȉzvjesnōst"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "Roman",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "sigúrnōst"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "istota"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sl",
          "lang": "Slovene",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "gotovost"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "certeza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "visshet"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "säkerhet"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "katiyakan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "tg",
          "lang": "Tajik",
          "roman": "yaqin",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "word": "яқин"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "pévnistʹ",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "пе́вність"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "vpévnenistʹ",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "впе́вненість"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "78 21 2",
          "code": "ur",
          "lang": "Urdu",
          "roman": "yaqīn",
          "sense": "state of being certain",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "یَقِین"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An instance of being certain."
      ],
      "id": "en-certainty-en-noun-gk-rTPtY",
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "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",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A fact or truth unquestionably established."
      ],
      "id": "en-certainty-en-noun-VUuxuKxZ",
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "sure thing"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɝtn̩ti/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɜːtn̩ti/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-certainty.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/97/En-us-certainty.ogg/En-us-certainty.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/En-us-certainty.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "certainty"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 3-syllable words",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English terms derived from Vulgar Latin",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English uncountable nouns"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "certainty equivalent"
    },
    {
      "word": "legal certainty"
    },
    {
      "word": "moral certainty"
    },
    {
      "word": "of a certainty"
    },
    {
      "word": "racing certainty"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "certeynte",
        "4": "",
        "5": "surety"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English certeynte (“surety”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "certeinte"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman certeinte",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "certeinete"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French certeinete",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "VL.",
        "3": "*certānitās"
      },
      "expansion": "Vulgar Latin *certānitās",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "certus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin certus",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-Norman certeinte, from Old French certeinete, from Vulgar Latin *certānitās, from Latin certus.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "certainties",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "certainty (countable and uncountable, plural certainties)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "cer‧tain‧ty"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "certain"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "doubt"
        },
        {
          "word": "uncertainty"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "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",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "October 12, 1786, Fisher Ames, “Lucius Junius Brutus”, in Independent Chronicle",
          "text": "The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The state of being certain."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "certitude"
        },
        {
          "word": "sureness"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An instance of being certain."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "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",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A fact or truth unquestionably established."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "sure thing"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɝtn̩ti/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɜːtn̩ti/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-certainty.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/97/En-us-certainty.ogg/En-us-certainty.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/En-us-certainty.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "yaqīn",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "يَقِين"
    },
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "roman": "péŭnascʹ",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "пэ́ўнасць"
    },
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "roman": "upéŭnjenascʹ",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "упэ́ўненасць"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "uvérenost",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "уве́реност"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "sígurnost",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "си́гурност"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certesa"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "確信"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "quèxìn",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "确信"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "jistota"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "sikkerhed"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "zekerheid"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "certeco"
    },
    {
      "code": "et",
      "lang": "Estonian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "kindlus"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "varmuus"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certitude"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certeza"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certidume"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Gewissheit"
    },
    {
      "code": "got",
      "lang": "Gothic",
      "roman": "astaþs",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌸𐍃"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "vevaiótita",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "βεβαιότητα"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "vada'út",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "וַדָּאוּת"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "roman": "yaqīn",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "यक़ीन"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "roman": "niścay",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "निश्चय"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "bizonyosság"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "cinnteacht"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "dearfacht"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "deimhneacht"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "deimhin"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "deimhne"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certezza"
    },
    {
      "alt": "かくしん",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "kakushin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "確信"
    },
    {
      "code": "pam",
      "lang": "Kapampangan",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "kabitasan"
    },
    {
      "alt": "確信",
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "hwaksin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "확신"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "certum"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certitūdō"
    },
    {
      "code": "lv",
      "lang": "Latvian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "noteiktība"
    },
    {
      "code": "lt",
      "lang": "Lithuanian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "tikrumas"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "sigurnost",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "сигурност"
    },
    {
      "code": "nb",
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sikkerhet"
    },
    {
      "code": "nb",
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "visshet"
    },
    {
      "code": "oc",
      "lang": "Occitan",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certesa"
    },
    {
      "code": "oc",
      "lang": "Occitan",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certitud"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "yaqin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "یقین"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "pewność"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certeza"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certitudine"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "siguranță"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "uvérennostʹ",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "уве́ренность"
    },
    {
      "code": "gd",
      "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "cinnt"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Cyrillic",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "и̏звесно̄ст"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Cyrillic",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "и̏звјесно̄ст"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Cyrillic",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "сигу́рно̄ст"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Roman",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "ȉzvesnōst"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Roman",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "ȉzvjesnōst"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "Roman",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "sigúrnōst"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "istota"
    },
    {
      "code": "sl",
      "lang": "Slovene",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "gotovost"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "certeza"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "visshet"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "säkerhet"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "katiyakan"
    },
    {
      "code": "tg",
      "lang": "Tajik",
      "roman": "yaqin",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "word": "яқин"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "pévnistʹ",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "пе́вність"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "vpévnenistʹ",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "впе́вненість"
    },
    {
      "code": "ur",
      "lang": "Urdu",
      "roman": "yaqīn",
      "sense": "state of being certain",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "یَقِین"
    }
  ],
  "word": "certainty"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-26 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (93a6c53 and 21a9316). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.