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

But informality and ambiguity remain a feature, not a bug, of China’s approach to coercive economic bargaining.

From The Wall Street Journal

The love of ambiguity can feel somewhat coy—Ms. Tokarczuk gestures toward the existence of occult mysteries without deigning to fully portray them.

From The Wall Street Journal

This “strategic ambiguity”—backed by aid for Taiwan’s self-defense and a robust military presence in the Pacific—has been key to deterring Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some safety advocates say requiring cockpit cameras would help resolve ambiguity.

From The Wall Street Journal

With the blackout period beginning soon and policymakers unlikely to elaborate much before then, the final stretch into December’s meeting is likely to remain marked by ambiguity.

From Barron's

Related Words

• doubt
• uncertainty
• vagueness