What does indeterministic mean?
Indeterministic means indeterminate: not fixed, settled, or uniquely determined. It describes a quantity, result, process, or condition that cannot be assigned one definite value or outcome. In technical contexts, especially mathematics, computing, and discussions of quantum theory or philosophy, an indeterministic system is one whose behavior does not follow a single deterministic rule; identical starting conditions need not lead to identical results. The adjective is related to indeterminism, the view that some events are not fully determined by prior conditions. Because it is relatively uncommon, indeterministic often sounds more specialized than the familiar indeterminate and can suggest either a genuinely open outcome or a process modeled probabilistically. It should not be used simply to mean unknown: an outcome may be unknown because knowledge is incomplete while remaining theoretically determined. The word is useful when precision matters, especially when distinguishing lack of a fixed result from ordinary uncertainty or lack of information.
adjectiveNot determinate, fixed, or uniquely decided. In technical contexts, it describes a process or outcome that is not governed by a unique deterministic result.
- Not determinate, fixed, or uniquely decided.
- Of or relating to indeterminism, especially a process that does not have one uniquely determined outcome.
"The researchers described the system as indeterministic because identical starting conditions could produce different outcomes."
"The chaotic system was indeterministic, so no two runs produced exactly the same result."
"Her plans for the journey remained indeterministic even after the available options had been discussed."
Indeterminate asks what remains unsettled; indeterministic describes a process whose outcome is not fixed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indeterministic come from?
Indeterministic was formed in English from the stem indeterminate, whose negative prefix in- and base are associated with Latin determinare, “to determine.” The family also includes Latin determinatus, meaning “determined” or “settled.” Relatives such as determinate and determination share this root, while indeterminacy and indeterminism name the corresponding condition or doctrine.
Related word forms
How indeterministic is actually used
Relatively uncommon and more specialized than indeterminate. It occurs especially in mathematics, computing, quantum theory, and philosophical discussions of determinism and indeterminism.
Easily confused with indeterministic
Indeterminate means unsettled, unspecified, or difficult to decide, whereas indeterministic more specifically describes a process or result that lacks a uniquely fixed outcome.