ambiguity

American  

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

noun

plural

ambiguities

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

• nonambiguity noun

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. )

Example Sentences

One area of the market lacking ambiguity Monday was the precious metals space.

From MarketWatch

“Lidar and radar reduce safety due to sensor contention,” Musk said in August, adding that “sensor ambiguity causes increased, not decreased, risk.”

From MarketWatch

But he also explores the moral ambiguities involved.

From The Wall Street Journal

This ambiguity means stocks will continue to swing based on what is happening with policy changes, rather than the underlying health of the businesses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Washington maintains a policy of what it calls “strategic ambiguity” to keep China guessing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• doubt
• uncertainty
• vagueness