Meaning of vague in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /veɪɡ/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    vague

    Definitions

    1. not clearly understood or expressed

    Examples

    • « an obscure turn of phrase »
    • « an impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit-Anatole Broyard »
    • « their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear- P.A.Sorokin »
    • « vague...for »

    Synonyms

  2. 2. lacking clarity or distinctness

    Examples

    • « a dim figure in the distance »
    • « only a faint recollection »
    • « shadowy figures in the gloom »
    • « saw a vague outline of a building through the fog »
    • « a few wispy memories of childhood »

    Synonyms

  3. Qualitative Adjective

    vague

    Etymology

    mid 16th century: from French, or from Latin vagus‘wandering, uncertain’

    Definitions

    1. not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished

    Examples

    • « an undefined term »
    • « undefined authority »
    • « some undefined sense of excitement »
    • « vague feelings of sadness »
    • « a vague uneasiness »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

See also