Meaning of ambiguous in English

1. Pronunciation

   /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/

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   UK accent

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1. Classifying Adjective

   ambiguous

   Definitions

   1. having no intrinsic or objective meaning

   Examples

   • « not organized in conventional patterns »
   • « an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference »
   • « ambiguous inkblots »

   Synonyms

   • unstructured

2. Qualitative Adjective

   ambiguous

   Etymology

   early 16th century (in the sense ‘indistinct, obscure’): from Latin ambiguus‘doubtful’ (from ambigere‘waver, go around’, from ambi-‘both ways’ + agere‘to drive’) + -ous

   Definitions

   1. open to two or more interpretations

   Examples

   • « or of uncertain nature or significance »
   • « or (often) intended to mislead »
   • « an equivocal statement »
   • « the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates »
   • « the officer's equivo »

   Synonyms

   • ambivalent
   • double
   • forked
   • evasive
   • indeterminate

   Antonyms

   • unequivocal
   • univocal
   • unambiguous
3. 2. having more than one possible meaning

   Examples

   • « ambiguous words »
   • « frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy »

   Synonyms

   • double-barreled
   • double-barrelled
   • double-edged
   • enigmatic
   • oracular
   • left-handed
   • multivalent
   • multi-valued
   • polysemous
   • polysemantic
   • uncertain

   Antonyms

   • unambiguous

See also

• equivocal
• unclear