ambiguous
gb/æmbˈɪɡjuəs/ us/æmbˈɪɡjuəs/
B2
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
having more than one clear meaning
Describes words or sentences that can have two or more different meanings, so people are not sure what they really mean.
Usage pattern:
an ambiguous [word/phrase/statement/question]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "ambiguous" when they only mean "not detailed" or "hard to hear." "Ambiguous" usually means there are two or more possible specific meanings, not just that something is missing information. Some also confuse it with "vague" or "confusing" and do not realize it focuses on multiple interpretations.
Synonyms
unclear (General term; does not always suggest more than one specific meaning, just lack of clarity.)
|
equivocal (More formal; often suggests deliberate use of language that can be taken in different ways.)
|
vague (Suggests lack of detail or precision rather than several distinct possible meanings.)
Antonyms
clear (Meaning is easy to understand and cannot be taken in different ways.)
|
unambiguous (Technical opposite; meaning is only one and cannot reasonably be misunderstood.)
|
explicit (Fully and directly expressed with no room for different interpretations.)
Collocations
ambiguous statement
|ambiguous question
|ambiguous wording
|ambiguous phrase
|grammatically ambiguous
|intentionally ambiguous
Themes
language
|communication
|thinking
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The contract is ambiguous about who pays for repairs.
- Her email was so ambiguous that no one knew if the meeting was canceled or not.
- That sentence is grammatically ambiguous and could mean two very different things.
- The instructions are ambiguous and could easily be read the wrong way.
- Politicians often give ambiguous answers to difficult questions.
Learner examples
- The rule is ambiguous, so students are confused.
- His message was ambiguous, and I did not know what to do.
- This sentence is ambiguous because it has two meanings.
- The sign is ambiguous, so drivers are not sure where to park.
- The teacher changed the test question because it was ambiguous.
adjective
C1
property
2
unclear or open to different views
Describes a situation, feeling, or person that is not clearly one thing or another, so people are unsure how to understand it.
Usage pattern:
an ambiguous [situation/position/relationship/role]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "ambiguous" with "ambivalent." "Ambiguous" describes situations or messages that are unclear or can be understood in more than one way. "Ambivalent" describes a person who has two opposite feelings at the same time, such as both liking and disliking something.
Synonyms
uncertain (Focuses on not knowing what will happen or what is true, rather than different possible judgments.)
|
mixed (Informal; often used about feelings or opinions that go in different directions.)
|
equivocal (More formal; suggests that something can reasonably be judged in two opposite ways.)
Antonyms
definite (Clearly fixed or decided, leaving no doubt about how to see it.)
|
clear-cut (Informal; means simple to judge or understand, with no grey area.)
|
straightforward (Easy to understand or deal with, not open to conflicting views.)
Collocations
morally ambiguous
|ethically ambiguous
|ambiguous relationship
|ambiguous position
|ambiguous status
|ambiguous evidence
Themes
emotions
|work
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Their relationship is ambiguous, somewhere between friendship and romance.
- The evidence is ambiguous and could support either side of the argument.
- He occupies an ambiguous position in the company, half manager and half consultant.
- The film presents a morally ambiguous hero who does both good and bad things.
- Her answer about moving abroad was ambiguous, so we still do not know her true plans.
Learner examples
- The results of the study are ambiguous, so we cannot be sure.
- Her role in the project is ambiguous, and nobody knows who she reports to.
- The ending of the movie is ambiguous, and people argue about what happened.
- His behavior toward me is ambiguous, and I do not know if he likes me.
- The law is ambiguous, so different judges read it in different ways.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ambiguous
IPA
GB/æmbˈɪɡjuəs/
US/æmbˈɪɡjuəs/
Syllables & stress
am - bigu - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bigu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ambiguous
Word family
Core family
ambiguity
noun B2
ambiguously
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unambiguous
adjective
unambiguously
adverb
Advanced or less common
disambiguate
verb
disambiguation
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.