Unknown quantity Meaning in English
expression
ənˈnoʊn/ /ˈkwɑntəti
uhn-NOHN KWON-tuh-tee
ʌnnˈəʊn/ /kwˈɒntɪti
uhn-OHN KWON-ti-tee
Definition
A person or thing whose abilities, influence, or effects are not yet known; also, something unpredictable because of insufficient information.
Usage & Nuances
Semi-formal/neutral. Often describes a new person in a group, a candidate, or a factor in a situation whose impact is uncertain. Can refer to people or abstract elements. Not mathematical in regular conversation.
Spanish: incógnita - cantidad desconocidaPortuguese (BR): incógnita - quantidade desconhecidaPortuguese (PT): incógnita - quantidade desconhecidaChinese (Simplified): 未知数 - 未知的人物Chinese (Traditional): 未知數 - 未知的人物Hindi: अज्ञात तत्व - अनजाना व्यक्तिArabic: عنصر غير معروف - كمية مجهولةBengali: অজানা পরিমাণ - অজানা উপাদানRussian: неизвестная величинаJapanese: 未知数Vietnamese: ẩn số - yếu tố chưa rõKorean: 미지수Turkish: bilinmeyen unsur - bilinmeyen değişkenUrdu: نامعلوم عنصرIndonesian: faktor yang belum diketahui - variabel yang belum jelas
Example Sentences
Until we see him play, he's really just an unknown quantity.
natural
The new teacher is still an unknown quantity to us.
basic
He is an unknown quantity in this competition.
basic
The weather is always an unknown quantity here.
basic
Bringing in a player from another country can be an unknown quantity for the team.
natural
How the new policy will work out is still an unknown quantity.
natural