certitude

[ sur-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. freedom from doubt, especially in matters of faith or opinion; certainty.

   Synonyms: belief, conviction, assurance

certitude

/ ˈsɜːtɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. confidence; certainty

Other Words From

• non·certi·tude noun
• un·certi·tude noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of certitude¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin certitūdō, equivalent to Latin certi- (combining form of certus sure; certain ) + -tūdō -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of certitude¹

C15: from Church Latin certitūdō, from Latin certus certain

Example Sentences

A conductor known for his intense warmth in general and his rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth in particular, Honeck brought the comfort of certitude to works composed in the shadow of doubt.

From New York Times

The blistering attacks on Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, showcased Democrats’ certitude that he was a liability for swing-district Republicans and a boon for Democrats’ quest to retake the House majority in 2024.

From Washington Times

While also cautioning that “I have no certitude,” the French military intelligence official said: “We don’t see at all that a rocket that size could have produced 471 dead. It is not possible.”

From Washington Times

Today’s legal culture and our polarized politics, however, demand certitude.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of his recurring motifs — of alienation, of queerness, of distrusting certitudes, of a life shaped in the margins — still feel startlingly modern, 90 years after his death, in 1933.

From New York Times