unclear
Britishadjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
When something's unclear it's hard to see or understand. If the directions for assembling your new desk are unclear, you might end up with two upside-down drawers and a handful of unused nuts and bolts. If you don't explain something accurately, it will be unclear to the person who's trying to understand. And when a photograph is badly out of focus, it's also unclear — you can't quite see the details. You can also use this adjective for the feeling that results in these situations: "I'm unclear about exactly who's in this photo and why you wanted me to see it."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is unclear whether the additional troops for Poland were part of those withdrawing from Germany or a separate group.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The extent of damage done to the nation’s rarest pine tree species remains unclear.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
When First Brands filed for bankruptcy, the level of borrowings, what was pledged to whom, and the impact of related party transactions were unclear.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
Possible explanations include hormonal influences, genetic differences, and unequal access to health care, though the exact interactions remain unclear.
From Science Daily • May 20, 2026
It became a little unclear who was stalking whom.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
