Word
ambiguous
Phoneticsam·bigu·ous
US/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/
UK/æmbˈɪɡjuːəs/
Definitions
01having multiple meanings
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adj. having more than one possible meaning, which can make something difficult to understand.
adj. open to more than one interpretation; lacking a single, clear meaning or intention.
“The ending of the movie was ambiguous, so we spent an hour debating what actually happened.”
“The contract's ambiguous wording led to a lengthy legal dispute regarding the exact responsibilities of each partner.”
Usage
Often used to describe language, laws, or instructions that are poorly defined.
Pitfall
The instructions were very ambivalent.
The instructions were very ambiguous.
Use 'ambiguous' for things with multiple meanings. Use 'ambivalent' for people who have mixed feelings about a choice.
Antonyms
02uncertain or hesitant
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. feeling unsure or not taking a clear side in a situation.
adj. characterised by uncertainty or a lack of commitment to a specific course of action.
“He remained ambiguous about which team he supported during the conflict.”
“The general remained ambiguous in his loyalties, waiting to see which faction would emerge victorious before committing his troops.”
Usage
In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'ambivalent' or 'hesitant'.
Real-World Examples
“But judges are not trained as historians, and history is often ambiguous.” “Past experiences of violence had created threat-oriented frames that quickly registered ambiguous cues as dangerous.” “It indicates that ambiguous language is more useful for the way we communicate than it first appears.” Etymology
From Latin ambiguus (“moving from side to side, of doubtful nature”), from ambigere (“to go about, wander, doubt”), from ambi- (“around, about, on both sides”) + agere (“to drive, move”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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