UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does uncertainty principle mean? 

• UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE (noun)
  The noun UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE has 1 sense:

1. (quantum theory) the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time

  Familiarity information: UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(quantum theory) the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

indeterminacy principle; uncertainty principle

Hypernyms ("uncertainty principle" is a kind of...):

scientific theory (a theory that explains scientific observations)

Domain category:

quantum theory ((physics) a physical theory that certain properties occur only in discrete amounts (quanta))