Heisenberg uncertainty principle
noun
Hei·sen·berg uncertainty principle
ˈhī-zᵊn-ˌbərg- 
-ˌbərk-
: uncertainty principle
called also Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
Examples of Heisenberg uncertainty principle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists are reshaping quantum uncertainty to sidestep the restriction imposed by the famous Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
The insight is now known as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle teaches us that observation disturbs the observed.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Alice sends her data backward in time, where Bob measures it, altering it in accordance with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 30 July 2020
Yet a cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the idea that physical quantities are inherently fuzzy—fluctuating randomly and having no definite values unless they are observed or undergo an equivalent process.
—Steven Carlip, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2015
The difficulty in pinning down neutrino masses lies in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, a cornerstone of quantum physics.
—Dolly Setton, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2014
With quantum key distribution, the security of the transmission is assured by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2014
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
The insight is now known as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle teaches us that observation disturbs the observed.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Alice sends her data backward in time, where Bob measures it, altering it in accordance with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 30 July 2020
Yet a cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the idea that physical quantities are inherently fuzzy—fluctuating randomly and having no definite values unless they are observed or undergo an equivalent process.
—Steven Carlip, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2015
The difficulty in pinning down neutrino masses lies in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, a cornerstone of quantum physics.
—Dolly Setton, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2014
With quantum key distribution, the security of the transmission is assured by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2014
Cite this Entry
“Heisenberg uncertainty principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Heisenberg%20uncertainty%20principle. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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