certitude

American

[sur-ti-tood, -tyood] / ˈsɜr tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

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

Synonyms:

belief, conviction, assurance

certitude British

/ ˈsɜːtɪˌtjuːd /

noun

confidence; certainty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

noncertitude noun
uncertitude noun

Etymology

Origin of certitude

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hilda witnesses the crime and is so distraught that her moral certitude temporarily deserts her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The arrogant certitude with which he announces his conclusions certainly suggests that he has embraced a posture of infallibility that leaves no room for good-faith disagreement.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

America, you’re a big, boisterous nation of more than 342 million people, with all sorts of competing impulses and interests, and no end of certitude to go around.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025

We can never actually achieve total certitude about the shapes climate change will take, nor do we need to arrive at certitude to take action.

From Salon • May 1, 2025

But his tone lacked the certitude she was used to.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023