amorphous

[ uh-mawr-fuhs ]

adjective

1. lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless:

   the amorphous clouds.

   Synonyms: anomalous, vague, undefined, shapeless

2. of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized:

   an amorphous style; an amorphous personality.

   Synonyms: anomalous, vague, undefined, shapeless

3. Petrography, Mineralogy. occurring in a mass, as without stratification or crystalline structure.
4. Chemistry. not crystalline.
5. Biology. having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria.

amorphous

/ əˈmɔːfəs /

adjective

1. lacking a definite shape; formless
2. of no recognizable character or type
3. (of chemicals, rocks, etc) not having a crystalline structure

amorphous

/ ə-môr′fəs /

1. Not made of crystals. Glass, amber, and plastics are amorphous substances.
2. Lacking definite form or shape.

Derived Forms

• aˈmorphousness, noun
• aˈmorphously, adverb
• aˈmorphism, noun

Other Words From

• a·morphous·ly adverb
• a·morphous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amorphous¹

First recorded in 1725–35, amorphous is from the Greek word ámorphos shapeless. See a- ⁶, -morph, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of amorphous¹

C18: from New Latin, from Greek amorphos shapeless, from a- ¹+ morphē shape

Example Sentences

Class consciousness has largely remained dormant in America, in large part because most people consider themselves to belong to the same amorphous socioeconomic class.

From Salon

When viewed from several feet away, the dots coalesce into a halation of amorphous color.

From Los Angeles Times

On Sunday, he declared it covered an "amorphous group of people" which Biden and Harris are mere "vessels" for.

From Salon

The former president instead focused his ire on “the enemy from within,” which he described in conspiratorial terms as an “amorphous” “radical left machine” that secretly controls President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

From Salon

At James Dolan's palace to sub-.500 seasons, Trump expanded his already frighteningly loose definition of enemies to include journalists, political dissenters and an "amorphous" group of people that control the government through "vessels."

From Salon

Related Words

• nebulous
• vague