vague
vayg
Vague (adj) means not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail. Example: “The instructions were too vague, so nobody knew where to begin.”
adj
1
Not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail.
"The instructions were too vague, so nobody knew where to begin."
"His directions were so vague that we got lost twice."
"She gave a vague answer instead of committing to a date."
2
Not clearly seen, felt, or remembered; indistinct.
"A vague shape moved through the fog at the end of the road."
"She felt a vague sense of unease but could not say why."
"I have only a vague memory of that trip."
How to use vague
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnclear or lacking specific detail — something you can't quite pin down.
Memory tip
If a description leaves you with more questions than answers, it's vague.
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Common pairings
a vague idea
vague answer
vague sense of unease
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Word forms
- Plural
- vagues
- Third person singular
- vagues
- Past tense
- vagued
- Comparative
- vaguer
- Superlative
- vaguest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The instructions were too _____, so nobody knew where to begin.
Etymology
From Latin vagus, meaning "wandering, uncertain" — the same root that gives us "vagrant" and "vagabond."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vague
See all rhymes for vague →Frequently asked questions
What does “vague” mean?
The word “vague” means not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail. In plain terms, unclear or lacking specific detail — something you can't quite pin down.
How do you pronounce “vague”?
“Vague” is pronounced vayg (/veɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “vague” in a sentence?
Here is “vague” used in a sentence: “His directions were so vague that we got lost twice.”
What is another word for “vague”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vague” include ambiguous, equivocal, fuzzy, generic, gray and imperspicuous.
What is the opposite of “vague”?
The opposite of “vague” — its antonyms — are certain, definable, clear, defined and determinate.
What part of speech is “vague”?
“Vague” is an adjective.
Where does the word “vague” come from?
The word “vague” comes from Latin. From Latin vagus, meaning "wandering, uncertain" — the same root that gives us "vagrant" and "vagabond.".
Is “vague” a common word?
“Vague” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "vague" and "ambiguous"?
"Vague" means lacking precise detail or not clearly defined, so it gives too little information to be clear. "Ambiguous" means open to more than one interpretation, so it gives information that could be read in different ways; something vague is unclear, while something ambiguous is confusingly double-meaning.
What is the difference between "vague" and "obscure"?
"Vague" means not clearly expressed or defined and lacking detail, while "obscure" means hard to understand or not well known. A vague statement is fuzzy and imprecise, whereas an obscure one may be precise but difficult or unfamiliar.
What nouns commonly follow "vague"?
"Vague" often describes idea, notion, feeling, sense, memory, and answer, as in "a vague memory" or "a vague sense of unease." These pairings reflect its meaning of something indistinct or not clearly felt or remembered.
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