Dictionary

ambiguous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ɛmˈbəɡ.jʉ.əs/ (New-Zealand)
• [ɛəmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs] (Canada, General-American)
• (California) audio
• /æmˈbɪɡ.jʉ.əs/ (Australia)

Etymology

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”).

Meanings

1. Open to multiple interpretations.
   • The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.
2. (obsolete, of a person) 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:

Forms

Antonyms

unambiguous · clear

Deriveds

ambiguousness · ambiguously · nonambiguous · inambiguous

Relateds

ambiguation · mistakable · confusing · ambages · disambiguation · situs ambiguous · ambiguity · contradictory · ambiguate

Synonyms

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

Translations (80)

id kabur (open to multiple interpretations) · tr müphem (open to multiple interpretations) · uk багатозначний (open to multiple interpretations) · cy amwys (open to multiple interpretations) · da flertydig (open to multiple interpretations) · sv dubbeltydig (open to multiple interpretations) · hu nem egyértelmű (open to multiple interpretations) · yue 模稜兩可 /模棱两可 (open to multiple interpretations) · sh dvosmislen (open to multiple interpretations) · ms taksa (open to multiple interpretations) · bg двусмислен (open to multiple interpretations) · vi tối nghĩa (open to multiple interpretations) · ar غَامِض (open to multiple interpretations) · th กำกวม (open to multiple interpretations) · ka გაურკვეველი (open to multiple interpretations) · id rancu (open to multiple interpretations) · ja 曖昧な (open to multiple interpretations) · ca ambigu (open to multiple interpretations) · th คลุมเครือ (open to multiple interpretations) · fi moniselitteinen (open to multiple interpretations) · da tvetydig (open to multiple interpretations) · no tvetydig (open to multiple interpretations) · es ambiguo (open to multiple interpretations) · grc ἀμφίβολος (open to multiple interpretations) · ka არაცალსახა (open to multiple interpretations) · hy երկիմաստ (open to multiple interpretations) · it ambiguo (open to multiple interpretations) · cs mnohoznačný (open to multiple interpretations) · ro ambiguu (open to multiple interpretations) · ms kabur (open to multiple interpretations) · tl talohimig (open to multiple interpretations) · cmn 曖昧 /暧昧 (open to multiple interpretations) · fi tulkinnanvarainen (open to multiple interpretations) · is óskýr (open to multiple interpretations) · pt dúbio (open to multiple interpretations) · la ambiguus (open to multiple interpretations) · fi monitulkintainen (open to multiple interpretations) · ka ბუნდოვანი (open to multiple interpretations) · da dobbelttydig (open to multiple interpretations) · yue 含糊 (open to multiple interpretations) · tr belirsiz (open to multiple interpretations) · ru многозна́чный (open to multiple interpretations) · eo plursenca (open to multiple interpretations) · yue 曖昧 /暧昧 (open to multiple interpretations) · de mehrdeutig (doppeldeutig, zweideutig) (open to multiple interpretations) · ro cu multe sensuri (open to multiple interpretations) · cmn 模稜兩可 /模棱两可 (open to multiple interpretations) · eo ambigua (open to multiple interpretations) · ka ორაზროვანი (open to multiple interpretations) · ru двусмы́сленный (open to multiple interpretations) · pl dwuznaczny (open to multiple interpretations) · he דו משמעי (open to multiple interpretations) · fr ambigu (open to multiple interpretations) · pl wieloznaczny (open to multiple interpretations) · cmn 歧義 /歧义 (open to multiple interpretations) · ast ambiguu (open to multiple interpretations) · mi rangirua (open to multiple interpretations) · sl dvoumen (open to multiple interpretations) · no flertydig (open to multiple interpretations) · tr iki anlamlı (open to multiple interpretations) · pt ambíguo (open to multiple interpretations) · ko 모호한 (open to multiple interpretations) · sq i dykuptueshëm (open to multiple interpretations) · tl taluhimig (open to multiple interpretations) · nan-hbl 曖昧 /暧昧 (open to multiple interpretations) · nl dubbelzinnig (open to multiple interpretations) · tr ikircil (open to multiple interpretations) · nl meerduidig (open to multiple interpretations) · el αμφίσημος (open to multiple interpretations) · pdt dobbeldiedent (open to multiple interpretations) · sh višeznačan (open to multiple interpretations) · nan-hbl 歧義 /歧义 (open to multiple interpretations) · nl ambigu (open to multiple interpretations) · ru неоднозна́чный (open to multiple interpretations) · gl ambiguo (open to multiple interpretations) · hu kétértelmű (open to multiple interpretations) · mk недозначен (open to multiple interpretations) · sv tvetydig (open to multiple interpretations) · hu többértelmű (open to multiple interpretations) · mk двосмислен (open to multiple interpretations)