being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
"the uncertainty of the outcome"
"the precariousness of his income"
the state of being unsure of something
"The uncertainty about the weather made it hard to decide whether to have a picnic."
Doubt; the condition of being uncertain or without conviction.
"The uncertainty about the final results kept everyone waiting anxiously outside the office."
In plain English: Uncertainty is not knowing for sure what will happen next.
"The uncertainty about the weather made us decide to stay inside."
Usage: Use uncertainty to describe a state where facts are unclear or outcomes are unpredictable, rather than simply expressing doubt about something specific. It often functions as an abstract concept in phrases like "in the face of uncertainty" when referring to general lack of knowledge.
The word uncertainty comes from Middle English and is formed by adding the prefix un- to certainty. It originally meant a state of being unsure or lacking confidence, which remains its primary meaning today.