ambiguity

ambiguity
noun
plural ambiguities
Synonyms of ambiguity
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
Examples of ambiguity in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thriving amid such ambiguity requires a resilient, adaptive culture and a proactive mindset.
—Ayo Adepoju, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, Gale invites us to sit with irresolution and ambiguity, presenting a scenario in which representation-as-disentanglement is not the end goal.
—Ellen Y. Tani, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, or PERA, would clear up some legal ambiguities that are currently stifling innovation in cutting-edge technologies like medical diagnostic tests and artificial intelligence algorithms.
—Jon Soderstrom, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024
While an overall heaviness weighs 1883 down, there’s a level of personal feeling here that compensates, as Sheridan concocts an American origin story filled with the intentional messiness and ambiguity that has always been his hallmark.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024