adj
ambiguous
am-BIHG-yoo-uhs
adj
1
Open to more than one interpretation; unclear in meaning.
"His answer was deliberately ambiguous so he wouldn't have to commit either way."
"The instructions were so ambiguous that half the team misunderstood them."
How to Use Ambiguous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAble to be understood in more than one way, so the true meaning isn't clear.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "ambivalent" — ambiguous describes unclear wording or meaning; ambivalent describes someone's mixed feelings.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
morally ambiguous
deliberately ambiguous
ambiguous statement
Word Forms
more ambiguous comparative, most ambiguous superlative
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His answer was deliberately _____ so he wouldn't have to commit either way.
Etymology
From Latin ambiguus, "moving both ways, uncertain", from ambigere, "to wander about, be uncertain".