ambiguity
ambiguity Lexical Profile
ambiguity Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.
"The legal contract was carefully drafted to eliminate any ambiguity regarding financial liability."
A word, phrase, statement, or situation that can be understood in two or more possible ways.
"Poets often rely on deliberate ambiguities to enrich the emotional depth of their verses."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Ambiguity' refers specifically to the presence of two or more distinct, competing meanings, whereas 'vagueness' refers to a general lack of precision or clear boundaries.
• Rhymes for ambiguity
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English via Old French from Latin 'ambiguitas', derived from the verb 'ambigere' ('to wander about, hesitate, or dispute'), from 'ambi-' ('both ways') and 'agere' ('to drive').