uncertainty principle
noun
: a principle in quantum mechanics: it is impossible to discern simultaneously and with high accuracy both the position and the momentum of a particle (such as an electron)
called also Heisenberg uncertainty principle
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Based on Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and the quantum no-cloning theorem, QKD systems theoretically enable unbreakable security.
—
Vibhu Sharma, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Because of the uncertainty principle, which states that a particle’s position and speed can’t be known precisely at the same time, this reduction in the electrons’ elbow room means their velocity must increase via a kind of seesawing of fundamental physical laws.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
This indeterminism, along with the ambiguity inherent in the uncertainty principle, famously rankled Einstein, who fumed that God doesn’t play dice with the universe.
—Zeeya Merali, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2023
Importantly, the distance between these two states (alive and dead or up and down) had to be greater than the distance ascribed to the quantum uncertainty principle, which the ETH Zurich scientists confirmed.
—Lars Fischer, Scientific American, 12 May 2023
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Vibhu Sharma, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Because of the uncertainty principle, which states that a particle’s position and speed can’t be known precisely at the same time, this reduction in the electrons’ elbow room means their velocity must increase via a kind of seesawing of fundamental physical laws.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
This indeterminism, along with the ambiguity inherent in the uncertainty principle, famously rankled Einstein, who fumed that God doesn’t play dice with the universe.
—Zeeya Merali, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2023
Importantly, the distance between these two states (alive and dead or up and down) had to be greater than the distance ascribed to the quantum uncertainty principle, which the ETH Zurich scientists confirmed.
—Lars Fischer, Scientific American, 12 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for uncertainty principle
Cite this Entry
“Uncertainty principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncertainty%20principle. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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