What does ambiguous mean?
Ambiguous is an adjective describing anything that can be understood in more than one way. A word, sentence, gesture, image, or situation is ambiguous when it presents two or more plausible interpretations rather than a single clear meaning. The term is most often applied to language: an ambiguous clause in a contract, an ambiguous reply from a politician, or an ambiguous headline that readers can parse differently. It also extends to situations and works of art — a morally ambiguous character is one whose motives cannot be neatly judged as good or bad. Ambiguous carries no strong positive or negative charge by itself; in law, science, and everyday instructions, ambiguity is usually seen as a problem to be eliminated, but in poetry, fiction, and film it is frequently prized as a source of depth and richness. The word derives from the Latin ambiguus, from ambigere, 'to wander around,' a fitting root for a term whose very business is unsettled meaning.
adjectiveOpen to more than one interpretation; having a doubtful or unclear meaning. It can also describe something whose nature or outcome is uncertain or hard to classify.
- (Of language, statements, or signs) open to more than one interpretation; unclear or inexact in meaning.
- (Of a situation, result, or quality) uncertain, obscure, or difficult to interpret or classify.
"The minister's ambiguous reply left reporters unsure whether the policy would change."
"The contract's ambiguous terms later sparked a dispute between the two companies."
"Critics praised the film's morally ambiguous ending, which refused to name a hero or a villain."
From Latin 'ambigere' — literally 'to wander around' — an ambiguous statement makes your mind pace back and forth between meanings, never settling on one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ambiguous
Ambiguous comes from the Latin ambiguus, meaning 'doubtful' or 'wavering,' formed from ambigere, 'to go around' or 'to waver,' combining ambi- ('around, both ways') with agere ('to drive, do'). The word entered English in the early 16th century, initially often used of oracles and prophecies whose pronouncements admitted several readings. It shares its ambi- prefix with words such as ambivalent and ambit.
Word family
Usage notes
Neutral to slightly formal in register; common in academic, legal, and journalistic writing. In legal and technical contexts, ambiguity is often treated as a flaw to be avoided, while in literature and art it can be a deliberate, valued effect. Do not confuse the thing being ambiguous (the text or situation) with a person feeling ambivalent about it.
Don't confuse with
'Ambiguous' describes something with two or more possible meanings, while 'ambivalent' describes a person who holds two conflicting feelings at once.
'Vague' means lacking detail or precision, whereas 'ambiguous' means capable of being interpreted in multiple distinct ways.