ambiguous

[am-big-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal.

   an ambiguous answer.

   Antonyms: explicit

2. Linguistics.,  (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.

3. of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify.

   a rock of ambiguous character.

   Synonyms: anomalous, problematic, indeterminate, vague, dubious
   Antonyms: certain

4. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous future.

   an ambiguous shape;

   an ambiguous future.

   Synonyms: enigmatic, puzzling
   Antonyms: unambiguous, precise, clear

ambiguous

/ æmˈbɪɡjʊəs /

adjective

1. having more than one possible interpretation or meaning

2. difficult to understand or classify; obscure

Other Word Forms

• ambiguously adverb
• ambiguousness noun
• unambiguous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous¹

First recorded in 1480–1500; from Latin ambiguus, equivalent to ambig(ere) “to dispute, contend; be undecided, doubt” (from ambi- prefix meaning “both, around” + -igere combining form of agere “to drive, lead, act”) + -uus adjective suffix; ambi-; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous¹

C16: from Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from _ambi- + agere to lead, act

Synonym Study

ambiguous, equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic describe conditions or statements not clear in meaning. ambiguous can refer to a statement, act, or attitude that is capable of two or more often contradictory interpretations, usually accidentally or unintentionally so: an ambiguous passage in the preamble. equivocal, usually applied to spoken as well as written language, also means susceptible of two or more interpretations, and it usually suggests a deliberate intent to mislead by avoiding clarity: saving face with an equivocal response to an embarrassing question. cryptic usually refers to intentional obscurity, especially in language, and often implies a private or hidden meaning but stresses resultant mystification or puzzlement: a cryptic remark that left us struggling to interpret his intention. enigmatic focuses on perplexity resulting from a mysterious or imponderable event or utterance, often one of great importance or deep significance: prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries.

Example Sentences

It appears to lack details and in some cases is vague and ambiguous - perhaps on purpose.

Read more on BBC

“As a result,” the New York Times reported after his 97-0 confirmation by the Senate in February 1988, “senators have been free to project their own hopes and views onto a somewhat ambiguous record.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That statement reassured Beijing but didn’t deviate from the U.S.’s strategically ambiguous “One China” policy, which acknowledges Beijing’s claim over Taiwan without endorsing it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Maybe end of high school it started feeling a little bit ambiguous, and I was trying to understand that.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Asked the same question, manager Dave Roberts offered an equally ambiguous answer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cryptic 
• dubious 
• enigmatic 
• equivocal 
• inconclusive 
• obscure 
• opaque 
• puzzling 
• questionable 
• uncertain 
• unclear 
• vague