vague

[ veyg ]

/ veɪg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vague ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, va·guer, va·guest.

not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises.

indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster.

not clear or distinct to the sight or any other sense; perceptible or recognizable only in an indefinite way: vague shapes in the dark; vague murmurs behind a door.

not definitely established, determined, confirmed, or known; uncertain: a vague rumor; The date of his birth is vague.

(of persons) not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression: vague about his motives; a vague person.

(of the eyes, expression, etc.) showing lack of clear perception or understanding: a vague stare.

Nearby words

Origin of vague

1540–50; (< Middle French) < Latin vagus wandering

SYNONYMS FOR vague

1. unspecific, imprecise. 3. obscure, hazy, shadowy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vague ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

vague·ly, adverbvague·ness, nounun·vague, adjectiveun·vague·ly, adverb

un·vague·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vague

But Horrigan says the site weeds out red flags like vague or unlisted addresses.
From a Broken Lease, a Dream NYC Home|Lizzie Crocker|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Give Yourself a Real Reward Sure, some people might be motivated by vague goals such as “better health” or “weight control.”
4 Science-Backed Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Out|DailyBurn|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I think that people who have challenged it sometimes are kind of vague in their reasons for the challenge.
A Trailblazer in YA Dystopian Fiction: An Interview With 'The Giver' Author Lois Lowry|Marianne Hayes|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She said it all in a vague way, that it was a hazing incident gone awry.
Joan Allen on ‘The Killing’ Finale and That Mother of a Twist|Kevin Fallon|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She said she had a only a vague idea who the couple were when she was booked.
Masseuse Claims Assault by Russell Brand|Tom Sykes|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And perhaps for her it wore the greater dignity from her vague idea of its internal workings.
Wheat and Huckleberries|Charlotte Marion (White) Vaile
"Somnambulism," however, is too vague and undefined a term for our present discussion.
Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death|Frederick W. H. Myers
The woods were beautiful, but I saw their beauty only in a vague, fantastic way.
At the Age of Eve|Kate Trimble Sharber
Dimly, he sensed that Corrigan was striking at him; with a sort of vague half-consciousness he felt that the blows were landing.
'Firebrand' Trevison|Charles Alden Seltzer
It was like the passing of a troubled dream, vague and indistinct, but fraught with horrible conceptions.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2)|John Roby

British Dictionary definitions for vague

vague

/ (veɪɡ) /

adjective

(of statements, meaning, etc) not explicit; imprecisevague promises

not clearly perceptible or discernible; indistincta vague idea; a vague shape

not clearly or definitely established or knowna vague rumour

(of a person or his expression) demonstrating lack of precision or clear thinking; absent-minded

Derived Formsvaguely, adverbvagueness, noun

Word Origin for vague

C16: via French from Latin vagus wandering, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vague

vague

adj.

1540s, from Middle French vague, from Latin vagus "wandering, rambling, vacillating, vague," of unknown origin. Related: Vagueness.

vague

adjective, va·guer, va·guest.

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Nearby words

Origin of vague

Examples from the Web for vague

vague

adjective

Word Origin for vague

vague