uncertainty
n. state of being uncertain, doubtfulness, ambiguity | ||||
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Uncertainty definition was found in categories: Language, Idioms & Slang(5) Law(1) Arts & Humanities(1) Business & Finance(1) Science & Technology(2) Encyclopedia(1)
Uncertainty Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Uncertainty
(n.)
The quality or state of being uncertain.
(n.)
That which is uncertain; something unknown.
(n.)
The quality or state of being uncertain.
(n.)
That which is uncertain; something unknown.
| WordNet 2.0 |
uncertainty
Noun
1. being unsettled or in doubt; "the uncertainty of the outcome"
(synonym) uncertainness
(antonym) certainty, sure thing, foregone conclusion
(hypernym) quality
(hyponym) doubt, dubiousness, doubtfulness, question
2. the state of being unsure of something
(synonym) doubt, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness
(antonym) certainty
(hypernym) cognitive state, state of mind
(hyponym) mental reservation, reservation, arriere pensee
Noun
1. being unsettled or in doubt; "the uncertainty of the outcome"
(synonym) uncertainness
(antonym) certainty, sure thing, foregone conclusion
(hypernym) quality
(hyponym) doubt, dubiousness, doubtfulness, question
2. the state of being unsure of something
(synonym) doubt, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness
(antonym) certainty
(hypernym) cognitive state, state of mind
(hyponym) mental reservation, reservation, arriere pensee
| hEnglish - advanced version |
uncertainty
uncertainty
\un*cer"tain*ty\ (?), n.; pl. uncertainties (&?;).
1. the quality or state of being uncertain.
2. that which is uncertain; something unknown. our shepherd's case is every man's case that quits a moral certainty for an uncertainty.
uncertainty
n
1. being unsettled or in doubt: "the uncertainty of the outcome" [syn: uncertainness]
[ant: certainty]
2. the state of being unsure of something [syn: doubt, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness]
[ant: certainty]
similar words(1)
uncertainty principle
uncertainty
\un*cer"tain*ty\ (?), n.; pl. uncertainties (&?;).
1. the quality or state of being uncertain.
2. that which is uncertain; something unknown. our shepherd's case is every man's case that quits a moral certainty for an uncertainty.
uncertainty
n
1. being unsettled or in doubt: "the uncertainty of the outcome" [syn: uncertainness]
[ant: certainty]
2. the state of being unsure of something [syn: doubt, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness]
[ant: certainty]
similar words(1)
uncertainty principle
| English Phonetics |
| JM Welsh <=> English Dictionary |
Anhysbysrwydd
Anhysbysrwydd = n. uncertainty
Anhysbysrwydd = n. uncertainty
Uncertainty Definition from Law Dictionaries & Glossaries
| The 'Lectric Law Library |
Certainty, Uncertainty
CERTAINTY, UNCERTAINTY - Contracts. In matters of obligation, a thing is certain when its essence, quality, and quantity are described and distinctly set forth. It is uncertain, when the description is not that of one individual object, but designates only the kind. Certainty is the mother of repose, and therefore the law aims at certainty.
If a contract be so vague in its terms that its meaning cannot be certainly collected and the statute of frauds preclude the admissibility of parol evidence to clear up the difficulty, or parol evidence cannot supply the defect, then neither at law nor in equity can effect be given to it.
It is a maxim of law, that, that is certain which may be made certain; certum est quod certum reddi potest Co.; for example, when a man sells the oil he has in his store at so much a gallon, although there is uncertainty as to the quantity of oil, yet inasmuch as it can be ascertained, the maxim applies, and the sale is good generally.
Pleading. By certainty is understood a clear and distinct statement of the facts which constitute the cause of action, or ground of defence, so that they may be understood by the party who is to answer them, by the jury who are to ascertain the truth of the allegations, and by the court who are to give the judgment. Certainty has been stated to be of three sorts namely: 1. certainty to a common intent 2. to a certain intent in general; and, 3. to a certain intent in every particular.
- 1. Certainty to a common intent is simply a rule of construction. It occurs when words are used which will bear a natural sense, and also an artificial one, or one to be made out by argument or inference. Upon the ground of this rule the natural sense of words is adopted, without addition.
- 2. Certainty to a certain intent in general is a greater degree of certainty than the last, and means what upon a fair and reasonable construction may be called certain without recurring to possible facts which do not appear; and is what is required in declarations, replications, and indictments, in the charge or accusation, and in returns to writs of mandamus. By some of which authorities it would seem, certainty to a common intent is sufficient in a declaration.
- 3. The third degree of certainty is that which precludes all argument, inference, or presumption against the party pleading, and is that technical accuracy which is not liable to the most subtle and scrupulous objections, so that it is not merely a rule of construction, but of addition; for where this certainty is necessary the party must not only state the facts of his case in the most precise way, but add to them such as show that they are not to be controverted, and, as it were, anticipate the case of his adversary.
This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.
CERTAINTY, UNCERTAINTY - Contracts. In matters of obligation, a thing is certain when its essence, quality, and quantity are described and distinctly set forth. It is uncertain, when the description is not that of one individual object, but designates only the kind. Certainty is the mother of repose, and therefore the law aims at certainty.
If a contract be so vague in its terms that its meaning cannot be certainly collected and the statute of frauds preclude the admissibility of parol evidence to clear up the difficulty, or parol evidence cannot supply the defect, then neither at law nor in equity can effect be given to it.
It is a maxim of law, that, that is certain which may be made certain; certum est quod certum reddi potest Co.; for example, when a man sells the oil he has in his store at so much a gallon, although there is uncertainty as to the quantity of oil, yet inasmuch as it can be ascertained, the maxim applies, and the sale is good generally.
Pleading. By certainty is understood a clear and distinct statement of the facts which constitute the cause of action, or ground of defence, so that they may be understood by the party who is to answer them, by the jury who are to ascertain the truth of the allegations, and by the court who are to give the judgment. Certainty has been stated to be of three sorts namely: 1. certainty to a common intent 2. to a certain intent in general; and, 3. to a certain intent in every particular.
- 1. Certainty to a common intent is simply a rule of construction. It occurs when words are used which will bear a natural sense, and also an artificial one, or one to be made out by argument or inference. Upon the ground of this rule the natural sense of words is adopted, without addition.
- 2. Certainty to a certain intent in general is a greater degree of certainty than the last, and means what upon a fair and reasonable construction may be called certain without recurring to possible facts which do not appear; and is what is required in declarations, replications, and indictments, in the charge or accusation, and in returns to writs of mandamus. By some of which authorities it would seem, certainty to a common intent is sufficient in a declaration.
- 3. The third degree of certainty is that which precludes all argument, inference, or presumption against the party pleading, and is that technical accuracy which is not liable to the most subtle and scrupulous objections, so that it is not merely a rule of construction, but of addition; for where this certainty is necessary the party must not only state the facts of his case in the most precise way, but add to them such as show that they are not to be controverted, and, as it were, anticipate the case of his adversary.
This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.
Uncertainty Definition from Arts & Humanities Dictionaries & Glossaries
Uncertainty Definition from Business & Finance Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Raynet Business & Marketing Glossary |
Uncertainty
unmeasurable risk: The decision-making condition where the decision-maker, or manager, cannot assign credible probabilities to alternative outcomes.
unmeasurable risk: The decision-making condition where the decision-maker, or manager, cannot assign credible probabilities to alternative outcomes.
Uncertainty Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Fishery Glossary |
Uncertainty
In statistics and risk analysis, refers to the estimated amount (or percentage) by which an observed or calculated value may differ from the true value. The incompleteness of knowledge about the states and processes in nature. FAO (1995)
In statistics and risk analysis, refers to the estimated amount (or percentage) by which an observed or calculated value may differ from the true value. The incompleteness of knowledge about the states and processes in nature. FAO (1995)
| Web Dictionary of Cybernetics and Systems |
Uncertainty
a measure of variety such that uncertainty (H) is zero when all elements are in the same category. H increases with both the number of categories and their equiprobability. The uncertainty resulting from two or more sets of categories is the sum of the uncertainties of the sets of categories taken independently. H = the sum of P sub i times the log of P sub i, where P sub i is the probability of an element being in the Its category. Since the categories must be specified by an observer , the uncertainty of a system may be different as seen by different observers.
Because of an unfortunate use of terminology in systems analysis discourse, the word "uncertainty" has both a precise technical meaning and its loose natural meaning of an event or situation that is not certain.
In decision theory and statistics, a precise distinction is made between a situation of risk and one of certainty. There is an uncontrollable random event inherent in both of these situations. The distinction is that in a risk y situation the uncontrollable random event comes from a known probability distribution, whereas in an uncertain situation the probability distribution is unknown. (IIASA)
The (average) number of binary decisions a decision maker has to make in order to select one out of a set of mutually exclusive alternatives, a measure of an observer's ignorance or lack of information (see bit ). Since the categories within which events are observed are always specified by an observer, the notion of uncertainty emphasizes the cognitive dimension of information processes, specifically in the form of measures of variety, statistical entropy including noise and equivocation . (Krippendorff )
a measure of variety such that uncertainty (H) is zero when all elements are in the same category. H increases with both the number of categories and their equiprobability. The uncertainty resulting from two or more sets of categories is the sum of the uncertainties of the sets of categories taken independently. H = the sum of P sub i times the log of P sub i, where P sub i is the probability of an element being in the Its category. Since the categories must be specified by an observer , the uncertainty of a system may be different as seen by different observers.
Because of an unfortunate use of terminology in systems analysis discourse, the word "uncertainty" has both a precise technical meaning and its loose natural meaning of an event or situation that is not certain.
In decision theory and statistics, a precise distinction is made between a situation of risk and one of certainty. There is an uncontrollable random event inherent in both of these situations. The distinction is that in a risk y situation the uncontrollable random event comes from a known probability distribution, whereas in an uncertain situation the probability distribution is unknown. (IIASA)
The (average) number of binary decisions a decision maker has to make in order to select one out of a set of mutually exclusive alternatives, a measure of an observer's ignorance or lack of information (see bit ). Since the categories within which events are observed are always specified by an observer, the notion of uncertainty emphasizes the cognitive dimension of information processes, specifically in the form of measures of variety, statistical entropy including noise and equivocation . (Krippendorff )
Uncertainty Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Uncertainty
Uncertainty is a term used in subtly different ways in a number of fields, including philosophy, statistics, economics, finance, insurance, psychology, engineering and science. It applies to predictions of future events, to physical measurements already made, or to the unknown unknown.
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