undefined

[uhn-di-fahynd]

adjective

1. without fixed limits; indefinite in form, extent, or application.

   undefined authority; undefined feelings of sadness.

2. not given meaning or significance, as by a definition; not defined or explained.

   an undefined term.

undefined

/ ˌʌndɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

1. not defined or made clear

   the job has remained undefined

Other Word Forms

• undefinedly adverb
• undefinedness noun
• undefinable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of undefined¹

First recorded in 1605–15; un- ¹ + define ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

By keeping their shared traumas largely undefined for most of the film, Trier allows the Borg family dynamics to be appropriately murky.

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The department said it was punishing them because they were “uncooperative” with its investigation, citing problems with their documentation including untranslated Italian words, undefined acronyms and failure to provide requested information.

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The president’s war powers are left largely undefined except for his having the title “Commander in Chief.”

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Then, seeing that the current flowed toward a safe, if undefined, point along shore, I stopped fighting and let it take me where it would.

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Norris had been facing undefined "repercussions" after colliding with Piastri while taking third place from him at the first sequence of corners in Singapore.

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Related Words

• ambiguous 
• fuzzy 
• unclear