unpredictability

UK: ˌʌnprɪˌdɪktəˈbɪləti | US: ˌʌnprɪˌdɪktəˈbɪləti

Definition

  1. n. the quality or state of being impossible to foresee or anticipate

  2. n. the tendency to behave or change in ways that cannot be predicted

Structure
un <not>predict <foretell>ability <capacity>
Etymology

The word "unpredictability" is built from three morphemes:

  1. "un-" (Old English "un-"), a prefix meaning "not," negates the following root.
  2. "predict" (Latin "praedicere," from "prae-" [before] + "dicere" [to say]), meaning "to declare in advance."
  3. "-ability" (Latin "-abilitas"), a suffix forming nouns indicating capacity or suitability.

The term evolved from the Latin roots through Middle French ("prédire") and entered English in the 16th century. The addition of "un-" and "-ability" reflects a logical progression: first the act of prediction, then its negation, and finally the abstract quality of being unpredictable.

Examples

  1. The unpredictability of the stock market makes investing risky.

  2. Her unpredictability keeps her friends constantly surprised.

  3. Weather systems exhibit high unpredictability in tropical regions.

  4. The artist’s work thrives on creative unpredictability.

  5. Scientists study chaos theory to understand natural unpredictability.