vague

[ veyg ]

/ veɪg /

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See synonyms for: vague / vaguely / vagueness 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR vague

1 unspecific, imprecise.

3 obscure, hazy, shadowy.

See synonyms for vague on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of vague

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French or directly from Latin vagus “wandering”

OTHER WORDS FROM vague

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use vague in a sentence

But according to Wyden, the bill is “full of holes, riddled with vagueness and ill-defined terms.”
Ron Wyden and Rand Paul, the Senate's NSA-Busting ‘Ben Franklin Caucus’|Eleanor Clift|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aronofsky avoids some of the pitfalls of the biblical story with deliberate vagueness.
‘Noah’: The Bible vs. the Blockbuster|Joel Baden|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, it was this very vagueness that underlined the success.
Obama’s Successes in Israel|Brent E. Sasley|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But it would be hard to argue, given the vagueness of his campaign, that he won a specific mandate.
Obama Election Victory Tempered by House GOP Reality Check|Howard Kurtz|November 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The incumbent gets the benefit of name recognition and ribbon-cutting opportunities; the challenger gets the benefit of vagueness.
The Professor and the Consultant|Megan McArdle|October 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is such a delightful mixture of vagueness and cock-sureness, and even more picturesque than Romanism.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
His Companion (disguising a slight vagueness as to the precise nature of this measure).
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, July 27, 1895|Various
An interesting feature of this case is the vagueness of the term "in need of relief," instead of "destitution."
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
Don't you see that his being my husband robs the situation of its charm, the vagueness that might have been its danger?
The Creators|May Sinclair
I realised the vagueness of my own plans as I had never done before I brought them to the test of this experience.
The New Machiavelli|Herbert George Wells

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 forms of vague

vaguely, 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

vague

OTHER WORDS FOR vague

Origin of vague

OTHER WORDS FROM vague

Words related to vague

How to use vague in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vague

Derived forms of vague

Word Origin for vague