Definition of ambiguous Ambiguous

/æmbɪˈgjuʌs/ - [atmbigyuus] - am•big•u•ous

We found 11 definitions of ambiguous from 5 different sources.

What does ambiguous mean?

WordNet

Adjective
ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"
		unambiguous having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; "As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous"- Mario Vargas Llosa
		ambiguous, equivocal having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"
		unclear not clear to the mind; "the law itself was unclear on that point"; "the reason for their actions is unclear to this day"
		double-barreled, double-barrelled having two purposes; twofold; "our double-barreled desire to make things profitable as well as attractive"- Louis Kronenbergers
		double-edged capable of being interpreted in two usually contradictory ways; "double-edged praise"
		enigmatic, oracular resembling an oracle in obscurity of thought; "the oracular sayings of Victorian poets"; "so enigmatic that priests might have to clarify it"; "an enigmatic smile"
		left-handed ironically ambiguous; "a left-handed compliment"
		multi-valued, multivalent having many values, meanings, or appeals; "subtle, multivalent allegory"
		polysemantic, polysemous of words; having many meanings
ambiguous - having no intrinsic or objective meaning; not organized in conventional patterns; "an ambiguous situation with no frame of reference"; "ambiguous inkblots"
		unstructured lacking definite structure or organization; "an unstructured situation with no one in authority"; "a neighborhood gang with a relatively unstructured system"; "children in an unstructured environment often feel insecure"; "unstructured inkblots"
		psychological science, psychology the science of mental life
ambiguous - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question"
		equivocal
		univocal, unambiguous, unequivocal having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; "As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous"- Mario Vargas Llosa
		ambiguous having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"
		forked, double having two meanings with intent to deceive; "a sly double meaning"; "spoke with forked tongue"
		evasive deliberately vague or ambiguous; "his answers were brief, constrained and evasive"; "an evasive statement"

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Wiktionary

ambiguous (Adjective)
Open to multiple interpretations.
ambiguous (Adjective)
Vague and unclear.
ambiguous (Adjective)
Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

ambiguous (a.)
Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

ambiguous
Containing multiple possible interpretations.
ambiguous
Not clearly thought out.
ambiguous
Expressed in an unclear fashion.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

ambiguous
am-big′ū-us, adj. of doubtful signification: indistinct: wavering or uncertain: equivocal.—n. Ambigū′ity, uncertainty or dubiousness of meaning—also Ambig′uousness.—adv. Ambig′uously. [L. ambiguus—ambigĕre, to go about—ambi, about, agĕre, to drive.]