certitude

noun

cer·​ti·​tude ˈsər-tə-ˌtüd 

also -ˌtyüd

plural certitudes

1

: the state of being or feeling certain

2

: certainty of act or event

3

: something that is certain : certainty

In the United States, death is feared. … Though it is a certitude that we all must deal with someday …

—Anne M. Johnson

Synonyms of certitude

• certainty
• assurance
• confidence
• conviction

Choose the Right Synonym for certitude

certainty, certitude, conviction mean a state of being free from doubt.

certainty and certitude are very close; certainty may stress the existence of objective proof,

claims that cannot be confirmed with scientific certainty

while certitude may emphasize a faith in something not needing or not capable of proof.

believes with certitude in an afterlife

conviction applies especially to belief strongly held by an individual.

holds firm convictions on every issue

Examples of certitude in a Sentence

believes with certitude that he is the best candidate for the job

Recent Examples on the Web

Even in the fixedness of their forms—their sententious certitude—a single work may conflate the erotic and the machinic, the vernacular and the archetypal, the abstract and the practical. — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Far too many candidates think AI can solve an office’s hardest problems, and the certitude among candidates with tech backgrounds is off the charts. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

With its grand explanatory ambitions, theory swept away doubt, offering in its place the certitudes of an all-encompassing system. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

My prayers for my country and for people everywhere rest on the certitude that God’s ever-present love, power, and wisdom will ultimately destroy any belief in a power opposed to His good and perfect creation. — André Kisonga, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin certitudo, from Latin certus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for certitude

• altitude
• amplitude
• aptitude
• attitude
• barbecued
• desuetude
• devalued
• finitude
• fortitude
• gratitude
• interlude
• interviewed

Kids Definition

certitude

noun

cer·​ti·​tude ˈsərt-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

: certainty