ambiguous

ambiguous — adjective

1. Describes words, actions, or situations that allow two or more readings, so the

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

Describes words, actions, or situations that allow two or more readings, so the real message or intention is not fully certain.

Example

The note on Mia's desk was ambiguous, so nobody knew who should call first.

ambiguous + noun: note / message / statement

Judge Lin gave an ambiguous answer when reporters asked about the missing files.

be ambiguous in an answer to avoid commitment

Common collocations
  • ambiguous answer
  • ambiguous message
  • ambiguous note
  • ambiguous ending
  • ambiguous statement
  • ambiguous signal
Synonyms
  • unclear

    general and common; 'ambiguous' more strongly suggests two or more possible readings

  • vague

    stresses lack of detail; 'ambiguous' stresses competing meanings

  • equivocal

    more formal; often used for statements that avoid a direct answer

Antonyms
  • clear

    easy to understand in one direct way

  • explicit

    states the meaning fully and leaves little doubt

  • definite

    firm and specific rather than open to interpretation

Grammar Patterns

ambiguous + noun (answer, message, ending, statement)

be ambiguous about + subject

Usage Note

Common with words, messages, signals, and endings. It can describe accidental lack of clarity, but it is also used when someone chooses careful wording to avoid saying one clear thing.

Common Mistakes

The teacher's instructions were vague, so we chose either page 12 or page 20.
The teacher's instructions were ambiguous, so we chose either page 12 or page 20.
'ambiguous' fits when two readings are possible; 'vague' fits when detail is missing in a more general way.

Word family

  • ambiguity
    nounC1
  • ambiguously
    adverbC2
  • unambiguous
    adjectiveC1
  • unambiguously
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe a lack of clarity, but they do not fail in the same way. 'Unclear' is the broad everyday choice for anything hard to understand. 'Vague' usually means there is not enough detail or the limits are not sharp. 'Ambiguous' is more specific: it suggests that two or more meanings are possible, so different people may take the same words in different ways. 'Equivocal' is more formal and often implies that a speaker is avoiding a direct answer on purpose. A rule can be vague because it lacks detail, but a text message can be ambiguous because it points in two directions at once.

ambiguous ↗vague ↗unclear ↗equivocal

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • deliberately ambiguous
  • intentionally ambiguous
  • slightly ambiguous

Phrases

  • remain ambiguous
  • sound ambiguous
  • leave something ambiguous

Prepositions

  • ambiguous about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Entered English from Latin through French. Its older Latin source combined a part meaning 'around, on both sides' with a verb meaning 'move or drive', and the word developed the idea of something that can go in more than one direction. In English, that became the sense of language or situations that point to more than one meaning.