ambiguity

American  

[am-bi-gyoo-i-tee] / ˌæm bɪˈgju ɪ ti /

noun

ambiguities plural

1. doubtfulness or uncertainty of meaning or intention.

   to speak with ambiguity;

   an ambiguity of manner.

   Synonyms:

   deceptiveness, vagueness

   Antonyms:

   clarity, explicitness

2. an unclear, indefinite, or equivocal word, expression, meaning, etc..

   a contract free of ambiguities;

   the ambiguities of modern poetry.

   Synonyms:

   equivocation

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ambiguity British  

/ ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. the possibility of interpreting an expression in two or more distinct ways

2. an instance of this, as in the sentence they are cooking apples

3. vagueness or uncertainty of meaning

   there are several ambiguities in the situation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonambiguity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ambiguities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ambiguity

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ambiguite, from Latin ambiguitās, equivalent to ambigu(us) ambiguous ( def. ) + -itās -ity ( def. )

Explanation

Something with ambiguity is unclear. Think about the sentence, "Jill saw the man with binoculars." If you are wondering whether Jill or the man had the binoculars, you are noticing the ambiguity, or the double meaning, of this sentence. Lawyers word contracts to avoid ambiguity, but in doing so prevent anyone who is not a lawyer from understanding what they have written! If you can't choose between two decisions because both seem somehow wrong, you are dealing with moral ambiguity. Imagine if a friend who has helped you out many times asks you to cheat. It's wrong to cheat but it also seems wrong not to help someone who has been there for you.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ambiguity ambiguities

The ambiguity in the lyrics allied to the familiar, easy melody, Harrison believes, allows fans to "express an outpouring of love without necessarily specifying what it's towards".

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

Because of this ambiguity, astronomers classify it as a "planetary-mass companion," an object with planet-like mass that orbits a star.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026

To remove the ambiguity and resulting food waste, Assembly Bill 660 was signed into law and goes into effect July 1, which ultimately will reduce the phrases allowed on packages to just two.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Investors may have to get used to more ambiguity, though that’s not necessarily uncharted territory.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

It was neither a “contract with abolition” nor a “covenant with death,” but rather a prudent exercise in ambiguity.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Supporters of the amendment argue that it will clear up ambiguities in the current law.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

“These ambiguities … are only likely to intensify as the conflict evolves,” Skuld said.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 5, 2026

Any ambiguities in the videos shared online were seized upon - different angles and different screengrabs were used to push a particular narrative.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026

The Times had to compensate for ambiguities and apparent data entry errors, often by taking into account freehand notes on a permit that painted a clearer picture of the project.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

But there are also appalling superstitions and deadly ethical ambiguities.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• doubt
• uncertainty
• vagueness