imprecise

[ im-pruh-sahys ]

adjective

1. not precise; not exact; vague or ill-defined.

imprecise

/ ˌɪmprɪˈsaɪs; ˌɪmprɪˈsɪʒən /

adjective

1. not precise; inexact or inaccurate

Derived Forms

• imprecision, noun
• ˌimpreˈcisely, adverb

Other Words From

• impre·cisely adverb
• im·pre·ci·sion [im-pr, uh, -, sizh, -, uh, n], impre·ciseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprecise¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; im- ² + precise

Example Sentences

Democrats have much bigger media problems than the New York Times’ sometimes using imprecise adjectives in its stories about Trump.

From Slate

In a letter, a Securus analyst said the data were so imprecise he was unwilling to swear to its accuracy in court.

From Los Angeles Times

He didn’t say in his letter why the data were imprecise or how widespread the problem was.

From Los Angeles Times

While Patel’s LinkedIn post told those interested in campaigning that “we will sort your housing”, it is being argued that this was imprecise language.

From BBC

“While it is certainly expected that political candidates address geopolitics, and while there are legitimate and serious criticisms of the Chinese Communist Party, imprecise and inflammatory rhetoric can create the false narrative that targets Asian Americans as untrustworthy, anti-American or ‘perpetual foreigners,’” the letter said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apocryphal
• deceptive
• distorted
• erroneous
• false
• fictitious
• inaccurate
• incorrect
• misleading
• mistaken
• specious
• spurious
• unfaithful
• unsound
• untruthful
• wrong