ambiguous

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
  2. adjective having more than one possible meaning
  3. adjective having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns

Etymology

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”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

equivocal

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