ambiguous

[ am-big-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal:

   an ambiguous answer.

   Antonyms: explicit

2. Linguistics. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.
3. of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify:

   a rock of ambiguous character.

   Synonyms: anomalous, problematic, indeterminate, vague, dubious

   Antonyms: certain

4. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous future.

   an ambiguous shape;

   an ambiguous future.

   Synonyms: enigmatic, puzzling

   Antonyms: unambiguous, precise, clear

ambiguous

/ æmˈbɪɡjʊəs /

adjective

1. having more than one possible interpretation or meaning
2. difficult to understand or classify; obscure

Derived Forms

• amˈbiguousness, noun
• amˈbiguously, adverb

Other Words From

• am·bigu·ous·ly adverb
• am·bigu·ous·ness noun
• unam·bigu·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous¹

First recorded in 1480–1500; from Latin ambiguus, equivalent to ambig(ere) “to dispute, contend; be undecided, doubt” (from ambi- prefix meaning “both, around” + -igere combining form of agere “to drive, lead, act”) + -uus adjective suffix; ambi-; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambiguous¹

C16: from Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from ambi- + agere to lead, act

Synonym Study

ambiguous, equivocal, cryptic, enigmatic describe conditions or statements not clear in meaning. ambiguous can refer to a statement, act, or attitude that is capable of two or more often contradictory interpretations, usually accidentally or unintentionally so: an ambiguous passage in the preamble. equivocal, usually applied to spoken as well as written language, also means susceptible of two or more interpretations, and it usually suggests a deliberate intent to mislead by avoiding clarity: saving face with an equivocal response to an embarrassing question. cryptic usually refers to intentional obscurity, especially in language, and often implies a private or hidden meaning but stresses resultant mystification or puzzlement: a cryptic remark that left us struggling to interpret his intention. enigmatic focuses on perplexity resulting from a mysterious or imponderable event or utterance, often one of great importance or deep significance: prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries.

Example Sentences

Now it’s up to the lower courts to interpret ambiguous laws.

From Los Angeles Times

The language in many of these posts is ambiguous as to whether he means this will impact this election or future ones.

From BBC

To help vendors, the Fish List permits the use of ambiguous names, meaning the same name can be applied to multiple species.

From Salon

The lively canvas, hardly an illustration of an event, employs light-reflective silver and golden-brown metallic paints applied in vast fields of paisley-like commas that dematerialize into a spatially ambiguous surface shimmer.

From Los Angeles Times

The exact meaning of his words remains ambiguous.

From BBC

Related Words

• cryptic
• dubious
• enigmatic
• equivocal
• inconclusive
• obscure
• opaque
• puzzling
• questionable
• uncertain
• unclear
• vague