Ambiguity Meaning in English
word
ˌæmbɪɡˈjuəti
am-bih-GYOO-uh-tee
ˌæmbɪɡjˈuːɪti
am-bih-GYOO-i-tee
Definition
A situation, word, or statement that has more than one possible meaning, making it unclear or open to different interpretations.
Usage & Nuances
Used formally in academic, legal, and literary contexts. Common collocations: 'legal ambiguity', 'deliberate ambiguity', 'remove ambiguity'. Not the same as 'uncertainty', which is about not knowing; 'ambiguity' is about multiple meanings.
Spanish: ambigüedadPortuguese (BR): ambiguidadePortuguese (PT): ambiguidadeChinese (Simplified): 歧义 - 模糊Chinese (Traditional): 歧義 - 模糊Hindi: अस्पष्टताArabic: غموض - التباسBengali: দ্ব্যর্থতা - অস্পষ্টতাRussian: неоднозначностьJapanese: 曖昧さVietnamese: sự mơ hồKorean: 모호함Turkish: belirsizlik (anlam) - çift anlamlılıkUrdu: ابہامIndonesian: keambiguan - ambiguitas
Example Sentences
The ambiguity in her answer confused everyone.
basic
Lawyers try to avoid ambiguity in legal documents.
basic
There is a lot of ambiguity in his statement.
basic
Writers sometimes use ambiguity on purpose to make readers think.
natural
Because of the ambiguity, no one knows what to do next.
natural
That joke relies on the ambiguity of the word.
natural