ambiguous
am-BIG-yoo-us
/æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/
Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.
Can be accidental (poor writing) or deliberate (to avoid commitment).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ambiguus', meaning 'shifting from side to side'. It literally means to be 'driven' in 'both' directions at once, so you don't know which way to go.
Word relationships
- equivocal: Equivocal is more formal and often implies a deliberate attempt to mislead; ambiguous is more general.
- unambiguous: Clear and having only one possible meaning.
Commonly confused with
- vague: Vague means not clearly expressed; ambiguous means having multiple possible expressions.
Word family
- ambiguity (noun): The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.
- ambiguously (adverb): In a way that is open to more than one interpretation.
Collocations
- ambiguous language
- highly ambiguous
- ambiguous results
Example sentences
- "The government's stance on offshore drilling remains ambiguous, leaving both activists and oil companies frustrated." Policy analysis.
- "Terms like 'eco-conscious' are often intentionally ambiguous so that companies don't have to meet specific standards." Marketing language.
Memory hook
An 'ambidextrous' person uses 'both' hands; an 'ambiguous' sentence has 'both' (or many) meanings. Driving in two directions.
When not to use
Do not use for something that is simply 'vague' (lacking detail); use it for something that could mean two different things.
Fun facts
- The 'duck-rabbit' illusion is a famous example of an ambiguous image.
Related words
Explore more words
equivocal, cryptic, equivocate, inadvertent, unbiased, anonymity
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.