ambiguity

[am-bi-gyoo-i-tee]

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

ambiguity

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nonambiguity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguity¹

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

Example Sentences

Tax Court routinely adjudicates highly technical disputes between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service, clarifying ambiguities in law and practice through published opinions.

Read more on Barron's

The ambiguity may be purposeful to give the Chinese side flexibility during negotiations with the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It isn’t the only firm to acknowledge this ambiguity.

Read more on Barron's

Crucially, however, there is much ambiguity stemming from Islam’s origins.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But experts say emphasis on their handwriting is not about aesthetics or convenience but a medical prescription that leaves room for ambiguity or misinterpretation can have serious - even tragic - consequences.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• doubt 
• uncertainty 
• vagueness