# Known Unknown **Entity class:** Uncertainty category ## Definition A **known unknown** is a recognized gap: analysts know that a variable, actor, relationship, capability, or vulnerability matters but do not yet know its value or state. Naming it enables prioritized collection and value-of-information analysis. ## Relevance to this collection It connects [[wiki/Intelligence Gap|Intelligence Gap]], [[wiki/Collection Management|Collection Management]], [[wiki/Value of Information|Value of Information]], and [[wiki/Predictive Defense|Predictive Defense]]. ## Relationships - **master collection:** [[collections/Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment|Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment]]. - **convergence:** [[wiki/Counterterrorism-Cybersecurity Convergence|Counterterrorism–Cybersecurity Convergence]]. ## Sources / Provenance - [Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence Community Directive 203, *Analytic Standards*, January 2, 2015](https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICD/ICD%20203%20Analytic%20Standards.pdf). **As of:** 2026-09-23