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

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

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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.

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

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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.

Read more on Barron's

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.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• doubt 
• uncertainty 
• vagueness