ambiguity

noun

am·bi·gu·i·ty ˌam-bə-ˈgyü-ə-tē How to pronounce ambiguity (audio)

plural ambiguities

: the quality or state of being ambiguous especially in meaning

The ambiguity of the poem allows several interpretations.

: a word or expression that can be understood in two or more possible ways : an ambiguous word or expression

: uncertainty

Did you know?

Where Ambiguity Comes From

It might not be immediately clear (unless you are fluent in Latin) how ambiguity ("uncertainty") and ambidextrous ("using both hands with equal ease") are connected, aside from the fact that they both begin with the same four letters. Ambiguity (and ambiguous) comes from the Latin ambiguus, which was formed by combining ambi- (meaning "both") and agere ("to drive"). Ambidextrous combines the same prefix with dexter (meaning "skillful; relating to or situated on the right"). So each of these words carries the meaning of "both" in its history; one with the sense of "both meanings" and the other with that of "both hands."Ambiguity may be used to refer either to something (such as a word) which has multiple meanings, or to a more general state of uncertainty.

Example Sentences

A third factor amping your desire to speed things along: Despite the euphoria of those first kisses and dates, the initial stages of infatuation can be incredibly unsettling. "You aren't sure yet where you stand with your mate, so you're anxious to shake the ambiguity," explains Regan.

Molly Triffin et al., Cosmopolitan, January 2008 Above the level of molecular biology, the notion of "gene" has become increasingly complex. The chapter in which Ridley addresses the ambiguities of this slippery word is an expository tour de force. He considers seven possible meanings of gene as used in different contexts: a unit of heredity; an interchangeable part of evolution; a recipe for a metabolic product; … a development switch; a unit of selection; and a unit of instinct.

Raymond Tallis, Prospect, September 2003 The troubles in the Empire at the turn of the seventeenth century have often been laid at the door of the Peace of Augsburg. While it is true that the 1555 agreement papered over some unsolvable problems and contained ambiguities and loopholes, it had been conceived as a pragmatic compromise, and it did succeed in preserving the peace in Germany for one generation.

Alison D. Anderson, On the Verge of War, 1999 Her letters and diaries describe her own feelings of insecurity and worries about her possible fate if she could no longer work, and they also tell us a great deal about the ambiguity of her position within the society in which she lived, and her determination to defend and maintain her own status.

Joanna Martin, A Governess In the Age of Jane Austen, 1998 the ambiguities in his answers the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the deceased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished See More

Recent Examples on the Web Still, there's an ambiguity at its heart that foregrounds the struggles of Claire and Luke, whose investment in what may or may not exist in the spirit realm is fueled by the grim realities waiting for them outside.

Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Make sure there is no ambiguity about how your employees should be performing or what the expectations for company performance will be.

Anna Tan, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Lawyers for the city unsuccessfully argued that there was an ambiguity in the language of the City Charter, which doesn’t lay out a clear process for what to do when a person has been suspended but hasn’t resigned.

Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 But any ambiguity surrounding al-Qaida’s succession plan could see the new leader’s authority challenged, which in turn could fracture the movement further.

Andrew Mines, The Conversation, 2 Aug. 2022 Kyle Davidson cleared up any ambiguity about a ‘fast’ rebuild.

Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2022 Students should also communicate clearly and without ambiguity.

Robert Farrington, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Currently, there remains a lot of ambiguity in additive.

Benny Buller, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 In October 2021, Blue Box tweeted that its employees had received death threats as a result of the ambiguity.

Jonathan Lee, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 See More

单词	ambiguity
释义	ambiguity noun am·bi·gu·i·ty ˌam-bə-ˈgyü-ə-tē plural ambiguities 1 a : the quality or state of being ambiguous especially in meaning The ambiguity of the poem allows several interpretations. b : a word or expression that can be understood in two or more possible ways : an ambiguous word or expression 2 : uncertainty Did you know? Where Ambiguity Comes From It might not be immediately clear (unless you are fluent in Latin) how ambiguity ("uncertainty") and ambidextrous ("using both hands with equal ease") are connected, aside from the fact that they both begin with the same four letters. Ambiguity (and ambiguous) comes from the Latin ambiguus, which was formed by combining ambi- (meaning "both") and agere ("to drive"). Ambidextrous combines the same prefix with dexter (meaning "skillful; relating to or situated on the right"). So each of these words carries the meaning of "both" in its history; one with the sense of "both meanings" and the other with that of "both hands."Ambiguity may be used to refer either to something (such as a word) which has multiple meanings, or to a more general state of uncertainty. Synonyms ambiguousness darkness equivocalness equivocation inscrutability inscrutableness murkiness mysteriousness nebulosity nebulousness obliqueness obliquity obscurity opacity opaqueness See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences A third factor amping your desire to speed things along: Despite the euphoria of those first kisses and dates, the initial stages of infatuation can be incredibly unsettling. "You aren't sure yet where you stand with your mate, so you're anxious to shake the ambiguity," explains Regan. Molly Triffin et al., Cosmopolitan, January 2008 Above the level of molecular biology, the notion of "gene" has become increasingly complex. The chapter in which Ridley addresses the ambiguities of this slippery word is an expository tour de force. He considers seven possible meanings of gene as used in different contexts: a unit of heredity; an interchangeable part of evolution; a recipe for a metabolic product; … a development switch; a unit of selection; and a unit of instinct. Raymond Tallis, Prospect, September 2003 The troubles in the Empire at the turn of the seventeenth century have often been laid at the door of the Peace of Augsburg. While it is true that the 1555 agreement papered over some unsolvable problems and contained ambiguities and loopholes, it had been conceived as a pragmatic compromise, and it did succeed in preserving the peace in Germany for one generation. Alison D. Anderson, On the Verge of War, 1999 Her letters and diaries describe her own feelings of insecurity and worries about her possible fate if she could no longer work, and they also tell us a great deal about the ambiguity of her position within the society in which she lived, and her determination to defend and maintain her own status. Joanna Martin, A Governess In the Age of Jane Austen, 1998 the ambiguities in his answers the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the deceased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished See More Recent Examples on the Web Still, there's an ambiguity at its heart that foregrounds the struggles of Claire and Luke, whose investment in what may or may not exist in the spirit realm is fueled by the grim realities waiting for them outside. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Make sure there is no ambiguity about how your employees should be performing or what the expectations for company performance will be. Anna Tan, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Lawyers for the city unsuccessfully argued that there was an ambiguity in the language of the City Charter, which doesn’t lay out a clear process for what to do when a person has been suspended but hasn’t resigned. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 But any ambiguity surrounding al-Qaida’s succession plan could see the new leader’s authority challenged, which in turn could fracture the movement further. Andrew Mines, The Conversation, 2 Aug. 2022 Kyle Davidson cleared up any ambiguity about a ‘fast’ rebuild. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2022 Students should also communicate clearly and without ambiguity. Robert Farrington, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Currently, there remains a lot of ambiguity in additive. Benny Buller, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 In October 2021, Blue Box tweeted that its employees had received death threats as a result of the ambiguity. Jonathan Lee, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English ambiguyte, anbiguite "uncertainty, indecision," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French ambiguité "doubtfulness of meaning, uncertainty," borrowed from Latin ambiguitāt-, ambiguitās, from ambiguus "unresolved, of uncertain outcome, ambiguous" + -itāt-, -itās -ity First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing ambiguity moral ambiguity moral ambiguity Kids Definition ambiguity noun am·bi·gu·i·ty ˌam-bə-ˈgyü-ə-tē plural ambiguities : something that can be understood in more than one way The message was filled with confusing ambiguities. ambiguity noun as in ambiguousness the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the deceased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ambiguousness mysteriousness uncertainty mystery murkiness nebulousness complexity opaqueness obliqueness equivocation inscrutability opacity vagueness obliquity nebulosity darkness obscurity fuzziness indefiniteness equivocalness indistinctness haziness inscrutableness depth mistiness incomprehensibility cloudiness impenetrability fogginess dimness indirectness difficulty faintness obtuseness complication abstruseness profoundness circuity reconditeness shadow incomprehensibleness deepness circuitousness shade abstrusity Antonyms & Near Antonyms clarity certainty obviousness clearness intelligibility plainness comprehensibility legibility distinctness brightness definiteness exactness explicitness openness directness perspicuity lucidity surety incisiveness forthrightness incision visibility straightforwardness readability palpability obviousness tangibility self-evidence lucidness perspicuousness readableness tangibleness See More
随便看	chemicks chemico- chemics chemigraph chemigraphy chemigroundwood pulp chemiluminescence chemiluminescences chemiluminescent chemin de fer chemins de fer chemio- chemiosmotic chemiphotic chemise chemises chemisette chemisettes chemism chemisms chemisorb chemisorbed chemisorbing chemisorbs chemisorption

ambiguity

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing ambiguity

Kids Definition

noun

noun