ambiguous

Open to multiple interpretations.

Adjective

  1. Open to multiple interpretations.
    • The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.

    Synonyms: equivocal unclear ambiguous fuzzy generic gray imperspicuous imprecise indeterminate indefinite indistinct murky nebulous turbid uncertain undefined undefinable vague woolly

    Antonyms: unambiguous clear

  2. Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.
    • And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute.... - 1662, Thomas Salusbury, Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury:

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰíder. Proto-Italic *amβi Latin ambi- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin ambig(ō) Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Italic *-wos Latin -uus Latin ambiguuslbor. English ambiguous From Latin ambiguus (“moving from side to side, of doubtful nature”), from ambigere (“to go about, wander, doubt”), from ambi- (“around, about, on both sides”) + agere (“to drive, move”).

Forms

more ambiguous most ambiguous

Related

ambages ambiguate ambiguation ambiguity disambiguation situs ambiguous contradictory mistakable confusing

Derived

ambiguously ambiguousness inambiguous nonambiguous