imprecise
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imprecise
Explanation
If you’re being imprecise, you’re not being exact. If you try to draw a perfect circle with your eyes closed, your drawing will probably be imprecise. One field where imprecise measurements can turn out to be troublesome is cooking. If you add an imprecise amount of flour into pizza dough, you will either get a crumbly, floury mess that won't stick together, or a big, gooey glob of dough that you can't roll out into a flat crust. Either way, your pizza will not turn out very well, and you might want to remeasure or order from the local pizza place!
Vocabulary lists containing imprecise
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Way Off: Synonyms for "Wrong"
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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.
The metric, which tech startups commonly use to signal their growth trajectory, is sometimes criticized as imprecise or even misleading, since it typically extrapolates a single month's sales across a full year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
As ever with AI, using imprecise instructions can end in tears.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
As with all AI-driven features, the descriptions may occasionally be imprecise, a Ring spokesman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
Critics say targeting the delivery system is an imprecise solution that risks broader consequences.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
I hate imprecise descriptions like lots, few, and hardly any.
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
