disambiguate

[dis-am-big-yoo-eyt]

verb (used with object), dis·am·big·u·at·ed, dis·am·big·u·at·ing.

to remove the ambiguity from; make unambiguous: In order to disambiguate the sentence “She lectured on the famous passenger ship,” you'll have to write either “lectured on board” or “lectured about.”

Origin of disambiguate

First recorded in 1960–65; dis-¹ + ambigu(ous) + -ate¹

Related formsdis·am·big·u·a·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for disambiguation

disambiguate

verb

(tr) to make (an ambiguous expression) unambiguous

Derived Formsdisambiguation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disambiguation

1827; see dis- + ambiguous + -ation.

disambiguate

1963, back-formation from disambiguation. Related: Disambiguated; disambiguating.