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

Again, this is presumably meant to add a frisson of topical ambiguity to the play’s happy ending.

From The Wall Street Journal

The fire also damaged power lines and sewer lines, so there’s ambiguity on what sections are being repaired, upgraded or kept the same, which leads to construction delays.

From Los Angeles Times

Anguish and ambiguity are perfectly compatible in the world that Williams inhabits.

From Los Angeles Times

The pattern is familiar: Elites hesitate to name antisemitism clearly for fear of inflaming tensions, only to discover that ambiguity emboldens extremists rather than restraining them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Technological advances and changing customer tastes may have made it harder for some investors to distinguish between the two, but Wurster said he sees no ambiguity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• doubt
• uncertainty
• vagueness