indefinite
Americanadjective
-
not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited.
an indefinite number.
- Synonyms:
- indeterminate, unspecified
- Antonyms:
- determinate
-
not clearly defined or determined; not precise or exact.
an indefinite boundary; an indefinite date in the future.
- Antonyms:
- specific, clear, determinate
-
Grammar.
-
Botany.
-
very numerous or not easily counted, as stamens.
-
(of an inflorescence) indeterminate.
-
adjective
-
not certain or determined; unsettled
-
without exact limits; indeterminate
an indefinite number
-
vague, evasive, or unclear
-
Also: indeterminate. botany
-
too numerous to count
indefinite stamens
-
capable of continued growth at the tip of the stem, which does not terminate in a flower
an indefinite inflorescence
-
Other Word Forms
- indefinitely adverb
- indefiniteness noun
Etymology
Origin of indefinite
From the Latin word indēfīnītus, dating back to 1520–30. See in- 3, definite
Explanation
The adjective indefinite describes something that is vague or not clearly defined: “After injuring her knee in a riding accident, Gloria postponed her vacation for an indefinite period of time.” You’ve probably noticed that a big chunk of the word indefinite is made up of a familiar word, definite — which means “specific” or “clearly defined.” The two words have common origins in the Latin word definitus (“definite”), but indefinite’s in- prefix gives the word the opposite meaning — "not clearly defined". Indefinite, wonderfully vague and undefined, is your friend for those times when your plans are up in the air (“indefinite plans”) or you don’t want to be pinned down to any particular timeframe (“on indefinite hiatus”).
Vocabulary lists containing indefinite
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 16
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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.
A 1951 defense treaty gave the U.S. the right to establish an indefinite number of bases in perpetuity, provided it informed Denmark and Greenland.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
It has since moved to an "indefinite" restriction.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
Negotiations for an indefinite cease-fire will now occur over the next nearly two weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Calocane, now 34, is serving an indefinite hospital order.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
The professors had declared an indefinite strike and the students had taken over all the buildings.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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.
