Ambiguity

/æmˈbɪɡ.juː.ɪ.ti/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The quality of being open to multiple interpretations; inexactness.

The ambiguity in her statement left everyone confused about her true intentions.

A situation that can be understood or interpreted in more than one way.

There was a certain ambiguity in the law that allowed for different legal interpretations.

An unclear expression, a word or phrase that has multiple meanings.

The poem's ambiguity invites readers to derive their own meanings from it.

The presence of two or more possible meanings within a single passage or statement.

He appreciated the ambiguity of the ending, as it left the story open for interpretation.

From Middle French ambiguïté, from Latin ambiguitatem, from ambiguus.

built-in ambiguity

An inherent quality that allows for multiple interpretations.

ambiguity of meaning

The unclear or uncertain meaning of a word or statement.

embrace ambiguity

To accept the uncertainty in a situation.

ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.

vague

Not clearly expressed or defined.

equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation and often intended to mislead.

It's all up in the air

The plans for the project are all up in the air.

Reading between the lines

There's some ambiguity there; you have to read between the lines.