adjective

amorphous

uh-MOR-fuhss

Amorphous (adjective) means having no clear shape or outline. Example: “An amorphous grey mass slid out of the tin.”

adjective

Having no clear shape or outline.

"An amorphous grey mass slid out of the tin."

"The sculpture is deliberately amorphous, refusing any single reading."

Lacking clear organisation, definition or identity.

"The committee was an amorphous group with no real remit."

"His plans were still amorphous when the deadline arrived."

technical In science, describing a solid whose atoms are not arranged in a regular crystal lattice.

"Glass is an amorphous solid rather than a crystal."

"The film deposits as an amorphous layer at low temperatures."

How to use amorphous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIt has no clear shape or clear boundaries.

When to use it

Formal in general use, and a precise technical term in chemistry and materials science.

Memory tip

The stress falls on the second syllable, and the noun form is 'amorphousness'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

nebulous → ambiguous → anonymous →

Common pairings

amorphous mass amorphous shape amorphous solid amorphous blob

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

An _____ grey mass slid out of the tin.

Etymology

From Greek a- 'without' and morphē 'form'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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shapeless formless unstructured nebulous vague ill-defined inchoate indeterminate

Antonyms

defined shaped structured well-defined clear-cut organised crystalline

Related words

worked rule begin ordered defined focused organized cloud

Rhymes for amorphous

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

See all rhymes for amorphous →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between amorphous and shapeless?

Shapeless is the plain everyday word and usually describes physical things, often unflatteringly, such as a shapeless coat. Amorphous is more formal, works equally well for ideas and organisations, and is the standard scientific term for non-crystalline solids.

What is the difference between amorphous and crystalline?

In materials science, a crystalline solid has its atoms arranged in a repeating, ordered lattice, while an amorphous solid has no such long-range order. Glass is amorphous; quartz, made of the same chemical building blocks, is crystalline.

Is amorphous a negative word?

It is neutral in science but often mildly critical elsewhere. Calling a plan or a group amorphous suggests it lacks the definition it ought to have.

What is the meaning of amorphous?

"amorphous" (adjective) means having no clear shape or outline.

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worked rule begin ordered defined focused organized cloud