uncertainty

1. Decision making: Situation where the current state of knowledge is such that (1) the order or nature of things is unknown, (2) the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable, and (3) credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned. Although too much uncertainty is undesirable, manageable uncertainty provides the freedom to make creative decisions. See also risk.

2. Information theory: Degree to which available choices or the outcomes of possible alternatives are free from constraints. See also entropy and information.

3. Statistics: Situation where neither the probability distribution of a variable nor its mode of occurrence is known.