undefined

American  

[uhn-di-fahynd] / ˌʌn dɪˈfaɪnd /

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.

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undefined British  

/ ˌʌndɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

1. not defined or made clear

   the job has remained undefined

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Other Word Forms

• undefinable adjective
• undefinedly adverb
• undefinedness noun

Etymology

Origin of undefined

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

Example Sentences

"The data-driven classification unexpectedly discovered two previously undefined fat distribution types that deserve greater attention."

From Science Daily

Even the title is undefined; a direct translation from the German would be “Looking at the Sun,” which switches senses.

From The Wall Street Journal

It added it was concerned the Welsh government was asking the Senedd "to give its endorsement to the creation of a new serious criminal offence which is undefined and could have life-defining repercussions".

From BBC

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

From Salon

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambiguous
• fuzzy
• unclear