indistinct

American  

[in-di-stingkt] / ˌɪn dɪˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. not distinct; not clearly marked or defined.

   indistinct markings.

2. not clearly distinguishable or perceptible, as to the eye, ear, or mind.

   He heard an indistinct muttering.

   Synonyms:

   dim, clouded

3. not distinguishing clearly.

   After the accident he suffered from indistinct vision and faulty hearing.

---

indistinct British  

/ ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. incapable of being clearly distinguished, as by the eyes, ears, or mind; not distinct

---

Other Word Forms

• indistinctly
  adverb
• indistinctness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of indistinct

From the Latin word indistinctus, dating back to 1520–30. See in- ³, distinct

Explanation

Is it hard to tell what someone is saying? Can you not see something clearly? Anything hard to make out is indistinct. Indistinct things are fuzzy, unclear, and hard to see or understand. A whisper can be indistinct. A clear, confident speaker is not indistinct. People like to say what a cloud is shaped like, but clouds are generally pretty indistinct — that's why different people will see different shapes in the same cloud. When we're writing, speaking, or drawing, we should try to be distinct, not indistinct — because we want to be understood.

Example Sentences

Indistinct images show individuals moving in or near the attack zone.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2022

Indistinct is how I feel about most festivals.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2015

Indistinct and shadowy, yet within it is an image; Shadowy and indistinct, yet within it is a substance.

From Time Magazine Archive

Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist, into which James had already disappeared.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Indistinct bird forms were roosting in cages; but her umbrella had no effect upon them.

From The Tinted Venus A Farcical Romance by Partridge, Bernard