Word
indistinct
Phoneticsin·dis·tinct, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
UK/ˌɪndɪstˈɪŋkt/
Definitions
01blurry or faint to see
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not clear to see because the edges are blurry or the object is far away.
adj. lacking a sharp outline or clear definition; visually faint or dim.
“In the distance, I could see the indistinct shape of a ship through the thick fog.”
“The photographer struggled to focus on the indistinct horizon, where the grey sea merged seamlessly with the overcast sky.”
02muffled or unclear to hear
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. difficult to hear or understand because the sound is not clear.
adj. lacking clarity of articulation; difficult to perceive or understand due to being muffled or slurred.
“We could hear the indistinct sound of voices talking in the next room.”
“The recording was so old that the speaker's words were indistinct, making it impossible to transcribe the interview accurately.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03vague or unclear ideas
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. not clearly defined in your mind; a feeling or memory that is not sharp.
adj. vague or poorly defined in concept or memory; lacking precise detail.
Español:indistinto
“I have an indistinct memory of visiting this park when I was a very small child.”
“The author presents an indistinct argument for the policy change, failing to provide the specific evidence required for a formal proposal.”
Real-World Examples
“We also found some rare rounded tracks with four or five indistinct digits, which might belong to ankylosaurian ("armored") dinosaurs .” “Captured from a distance, the files displayed on the laptop are indistinct and unreadable.” Etymology
From Middle French indistinct, from Latin indistinctus. English equivalent in- + distinct.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/indistinct
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0