Word
certainty
Phoneticscer·tain·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɝtənti/
UK/sˈɜːtənti/
Definitions
01the feeling of being sure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the feeling of being completely sure that something is true or will happen.
n. the psychological state of being confident or certain about a proposition or outcome.
“I can say with certainty that we will finish the project on time.”
“Despite the conflicting evidence, the witness spoke with such absolute certainty that the jury found her testimony highly persuasive.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'with certainty' or 'a sense of certainty'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a definite fact
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is definitely true or that will definitely happen.
n. an established fact or an event that is inevitable.
“It is a certainty that prices will rise again next year.”
“In the volatile world of venture capital, there is no such thing as a mathematical certainty, regardless of how promising a startup appears.”
Usage
Commonly used with the definite article as 'a certainty'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “certainty” in context.
Verb
01. await with certainty
“The scientists await the results with certainty, knowing their calculations were precise.”
verb + prep + noun
02. state with certainty
“The doctor could not state with certainty that the treatment would be successful.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. absolute certainty
“I can say with absolute certainty that we will meet our deadline this month.”
adj + noun
04. mathematical certainty
“The outcome of the experiment was a mathematical certainty based on the initial data.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. degree of certainty
“We can predict the weather for tomorrow with a high degree of certainty.”
noun + of + noun
06. lack of certainty
“The lack of certainty regarding the new law caused a lot of confusion among small business owners.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. in the certainty
“She invested all her savings in the certainty that the company would grow.”
prep + noun
08. with any certainty
“It is difficult to predict with any certainty how the market will react to the news.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“I had decided, with the particular certainty children sometimes develop about the rules of the world they are entering, that I would eat as little as possible before sixth grade.” “But the climate crisis is not only a future certainty, it is past and present truth.” “In a world where everyone is acting, Cusk seems to be saying, the appearance of things is all the certainty we have.” Etymology
From Middle English certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-Norman certeinte, from Old French certeinete, from Vulgar Latin *certānitās, from Latin certus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
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