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

The new policy erases all ambiguity around the question of whether bot-made text can exist on Wikipedia’s public pages to begin with.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

This ambiguity is, at least partly, by design.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

In conflict zones, this ambiguity is particularly pronounced.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

A delayed confirmation wouldn’t halt its operations, but it could introduce a degree of ambiguity that modern markets haven’t yet faced.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

If Francis had gone along, no such ambiguity would have existed.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Related Words

• doubt
• uncertainty
• vagueness