Known Unknown
Noun Phrase · Slang & Abbreviations
Definitions
A risk or gap you are aware exists even though you do not yet know the exact answer. In engineering slang, distinguishing known unknowns from surprise unknowns is a key part of honest planning.
In plain English: Something you know you do not yet know.
Example: "They treated the mobile-client compatibility behavior as a known unknown and refused to pretend the rollout estimate was precise until that uncertainty was tested."
Related Terms
- Unknown Unknowns
- Future Proof
- Back of the Napkin
- Big Rewrite
- Bleeding Edge
- Blind Merge
- Calendar Driven Development
- Code Gamble
- Code Hazard
- Critical Path Slang
- Front Page Test
- Kanban Board Slang
- Living on the Edge
- Merge and Pray
- Mind Map
- No Plan B
- Scope Monster
- Single Point of Failure Slang
- Sword of Damocles
- Toxic Code
- Unknown Unknown
- Whiteboard