- [uncountable] the state of being certain
- There is no certainty that the president's removal would end the civil war.
- I can't say with any certainty where I'll be next week.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2- There seems to be a lack of certainty over what we should do.
- It's difficult to predict with any degree of certainty how much it will cost.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- near
- …
- degree
- with certainty
- a lack of certainty
- the one certainty
- the only certainty
- …
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- [countable] a thing that is certain
- political/moral certainties
- Her return to the team now seems a certainty.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1- It's a virtual certainty that essential foodstuffs will go up in price.
- The one certainty left in a changing world is death.
- As far as the economy is concerned, the only certainty is uncertainty.
- The end of the Cold War marked the collapse of many old political certainties.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- near
- …
- degree
- with certainty
- a lack of certainty
- the one certainty
- the only certainty
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French certainete, from certain, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure’.
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certainty