If you say that there is ambiguity in something, you mean that it is unclear or confusing, or it can be understood in more than one way.
There is considerable ambiguity about what this part of the agreement actually means. [+ about]
Students sometimes struggle with the ambiguities of the English language. [+ of]
2. variable noun
If you say that there is an ambiguity in a situation or in someone's character, you mean that it contains several different qualitiesor attitudes which do not fit well together.
The author's style suggests a certain ambiguity in his moral view.
More Synonyms of ambiguity
ambiguity in British English
(ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
the possibility of interpreting an expression in two or more distinct ways
2.
an instance of this, as in the sentence they are cooking apples
3.
vagueness or uncertainty of meaning
there are several ambiguities in the situation
ambiguity in American English
(ˌæmbəˈgjuəti)
noun
1.
the quality or state of being ambiguous
2. Word forms: pluralˌambiˈguities
an ambiguous word, statement, etc.
Word origin
ME ambiguite < L ambiguitas
COBUILD Collocations
ambiguity
moral ambiguity
Examples of 'ambiguity' in a sentence
ambiguity
This is caused partly by insecurity but also by an ambiguity about the compromises required to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Lily was in fact becoming more and more aware of a certain ambiguity in her situation.
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth (1905)
Moral ambiguity hovers over its use of these disclosure facilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is no ambiguity about the wider cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Many political solutions are rife with moral ambiguity.
Christianity Today (2000)
There is no ambiguity about his desire to remake capitalism.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some uncertainty and ambiguity is accepted.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
There was no ambiguity about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Many will attack the Durban deal for its ambiguities and the vagueness of the legal framework.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
So much for the good news - now for the uncertainty and ambiguity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Senior managers have to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity, capricious colleagues and demanding shareholders.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet he has woven a quietly absorbing gangland tale, full of moral ambiguities.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We live in a world of moral ambiguities: we seek certainties where we can.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But I must own up to a certain ambiguity yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
SOCIAL workers deal with vulnerable people in situations of ambiguity, uncertainty and risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Company - To avoid any ambiguity in which part of our operation we are concerned with this should be defined first.
Piercy, Nigel Market-led Strategic Change (1991)
There is also a certain ambiguity in the reactions (there is at any time more than one chemical process going on up there).
Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)
In other languages
ambiguity
British English: ambiguity NOUN
If you say that there is ambiguity in something, you mean that it is unclear or confusing, or it can be understood in more than one way.
There is considerable ambiguity about what this part of the agreement actually means.
American English: ambiguity
Brazilian Portuguese: ambiguidade
Chinese: 模棱两可
European Spanish: ambigüedad
French: ambiguïté
German: Unklarheit
Italian: ambiguità
Japanese: あいまいさ
Korean: 애매함
European Portuguese: ambiguidade
Latin American Spanish: ambigüedad
(noun)
Definition
the possibility of interpreting an expression in more than one way
the ambiguities of language
Synonyms
vagueness
the vagueness of the language used in the text
doubt
There is some doubt whether it will be any more effective.
puzzle
uncertainty
There is genuine uncertainty about the party's future plans.
obscurity
Hunt was irritated by the obscurity of his reply.
enigma
equivocation
Why don't you just say what you think without equivocation?
inconclusiveness
indefiniteness
dubiety
dubiousness
tergiversation
indeterminateness
equivocality
doubtfulness
equivocacy
Additional synonyms
in the sense of doubt
Definition
an unresolved difficulty or point
There is some doubt whether it will be any more effective.
Synonyms
difficulty,
problem,
confusion,
dilemma,
ambiguity (informal),
quandary,
perplexity
in the sense of dubiety
Synonyms
doubtfulness,
doubt,
uncertainty,
scepticism,
mistrust,
misgiving,
qualm,
indecision,
incertitude,
dubiosity
in the sense of equivocation
Why don't you just say what you think without equivocation?