ill-defined

[il-di-fahynd]

adjective

1. badly or inadequately defined; vague.

   He confuses the reader with ill-defined terms and concepts.

ill-defined

adjective

1. imperfectly defined; having no clear outline

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-defined¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“Giving a president who aspires to be a king a potent financial weapon with ill-defined purposes and methods,” Feldstein and Vittori write, “presents a grave risk to American democracy.”

From Los Angeles Times

US negotiators have talked about giving Ukraine as yet ill-defined Nato-style assurances that the west would come to Kyiv's aid against future Russian aggression.

From BBC

Measure G faced significant opposition — including from two sitting supervisors — who argued an elected chief executive would be too powerful and the measure left too much of this new government ill-defined.

From Los Angeles Times

Both Mitchell and Barger opposed Measure G, arguing it had been put together too hastily and gave too much power to an ill-defined county executive.

From Los Angeles Times

In the filing, Keenan appeared to question the government’s evidence relating to a reported “blunt head injury,” calling it “vague and ill-defined even at trial.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• murky 
• unclear 
• vague