Ambiguous
Texts from your boss, fine print, and politician answers often share one problem: you finish reading and still are not sure what was promised.
Learn This WordMeaning
Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning or unclear significance.
Memory trick
Think "AM-BIG-UOUS" = "Am I big or small? It's UOUS (unclear)." Ambiguous things can be interpreted multiple ways.
Examples
The politician's ambiguous statement left voters confused about her position.
His ambiguous response made it unclear whether he agreed or disagreed.
The contract contained ambiguous language that led to disputes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin ambiguus "having double meaning," from ambigere "to wander," from ambi- "both ways" + agere "to drive."
Usage Notes
Frequently used in legal, academic, and communication contexts to describe unclear or multi-interpretable statements.
Real-life contexts
Use when something is unclear: "The instructions were ambiguous."
Perfect for discussing communication: "Her ambiguous answer left me confused."
Works in analysis: "The data shows ambiguous results."
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse with "ambivalent" (having mixed feelings). Ambiguous refers to unclear meaning, not conflicted emotions.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
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