ambiguity

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
Français
French
Español
Spanish
Deutsch
German
Português
Portuguese
Русский
Russian
/ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪti/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A situation or expression that can be understood in more than one way.

Examples

  • She appreciated the ambiguity in the poem because it left room for personal interpretation.
  • In casual conversation, a little ambiguity can keep the mood light and avoid conflict.
  • The ambiguity of the contract caused the parties to argue over the terms.
  • His vague instructions added ambiguity to the project, making it hard to start.
  • The news article's ambiguity about the policy change left readers unsure what would happen.

Similar words

open-endedness
vagueness
uncertainty
obscurity
double meaning
multivalence
indeterminacy
equivocality

Meanings

State of being open to multiple interpretations

noun
language
neutral
The quality of having more than one possible meaning, which can make a word, phrase, or statement unclear.

Examples

  • The ambiguity of the contract caused the parties to argue over the terms.
  • She appreciated the ambiguity in the poem because it left room for personal interpretation.
  • His vague instructions added ambiguity to the project, making it hard to start.
  • In casual conversation, a little ambiguity can keep the mood light and avoid conflict.
  • The news article's ambiguity about the policy change left readers unsure what would happen.

Similar words

Etymology

From late Middle English ambiguite (c. 14th century), borrowed from Latin ambiguitās ‘state of being ambiguous’, itself derived from Latin ambiguus ‘uncertain, doubtful’.

FAQ

What does ambiguity mean?

It is a situation or expression that can be understood in more than one way.

What is the definition of ambiguity in language?

It is the quality of having more than one possible meaning, which can make a word, phrase, or statement unclear.

What is the noun sense of ambiguity?

It is a noun meaning the state of being open to multiple interpretations.

What are synonyms of ambiguity?

Uncertainty, vagueness, equivocality, obscurity, indeterminacy, double meaning, multivalence, open-endedness.

What is the plural form of ambiguity?

The plural of ambiguity is ambiguities.

Where does the word ambiguity come from?

It comes from late Middle English ambiguite, borrowed from Latin ambiguitas meaning ‘state of being ambiguous’, which derives from Latin ambiguus ‘uncertain, doubtful’.

How is ambiguity different from certainty?

Ambiguity allows multiple interpretations, while certainty allows only one clear meaning.

In what contexts is ambiguity used?

It is used in language when a word, phrase, or statement can be interpreted in more than one way.

Can ambiguity make a statement unclear?

Yes, because having more than one possible meaning can make the statement unclear.

Is ambiguity considered a neutral register word?

Yes, its register is neutral.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...