Word
vague
US/ˈveɪɡ/
UK/vˈeɪɡ/
Definitions
01unclear communication
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not clear or specific in what is said or written.
adj. lacking precision or detail in expression; stated in indefinite terms.
日本語:あいまいな※
“The manager gave me some vague instructions, so I wasn't sure how to start the project.”
“The contract was criticized for its vague language, which left several key clauses open to conflicting interpretations by both parties.”
Synonyms
02indistinct or hazy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not clearly seen, felt, or remembered.
adj. lacking sharp outline or definite form; perceived or remembered indistinctly.
日本語:かすか※
“I have a vague memory of visiting this park when I was a very small child.”
“Through the thick morning mist, we could just make out the vague shape of a ship anchored in the bay.”
Synonyms
03to wander
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
v. to travel or move around without a fixed plan.
v. to wander, roam, or stray without a specific destination.
“The lonely traveler continued to vague through the ancient forests of the north.”
“In the epic poem, the hero is destined to vague across the seas for a decade before returning to his ancestral home.”
Teaching tip
This verbal sense is obsolete in modern speech; learners will only encounter it in historical or highly stylized literature.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vague” in context.
Verb
01. give a vague answer
“When I asked him when he would be finished, he just gave a vague answer.”
verb + adj + noun
02. remain vague about the details
“The CEO remained vague about the details of the merger during the press conference.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
Adjective
03. deliberately vague
“The politician was deliberately vague to avoid committing to a specific policy.”
adv + adj
04. vague about the future
“She felt increasingly vague about the future of her career after the company restructuring.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
05. vague recollection of the event
“I have only a vague recollection of the event since it happened so many years ago.”
adj + noun + of + noun
06. vague sense of unease
“Walking through the deserted hallway, he felt a vague sense of unease.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Additionally, my outcome is pretty vague – do I want to know whether zinc will prevent respiratory infections or make them less severe?” “A Google spokesperson says the team is aware that this experience is suboptimal, and it has vague plans to improve it.” Etymology
From Middle French vague, from Latin vagus (“uncertain, vague”, literally “wandering, rambling, strolling”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vague
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0