Definition of ambiguity in English:

ambiguity

noun

mass noun

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
‘we can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act’
count noun ‘ambiguities in such questions are potentially very dangerous’
- ‘The term diaspora has come into vogue in the last decade because it captures the ambiguities of contemporary social belonging.’
- ‘And if the amendment is still in the drafting stages, why not modify it to avoid these ambiguities in the first place?’
- ‘It is sure to retain its ambiguity, its complexity, and its centrality in human life.’
- ‘Yet they maintain just enough ambiguity so that the audience is left still puzzling over the piece afterwards.’
- ‘Uncertainty and ambiguity are as present in science as they are in most things.’
- ‘So any question of ambiguity is really dealt with in accordance with those ordinary principles.’
- ‘The story is largely a wasted opportunity to elicit clarifications of ambiguities and contradictions.’
- ‘I'm waiting to see the response from the guys about the specific details and ambiguities in the other parts of the stories.’
- ‘There's very little ambiguity to the whole thing; it's all spelled out right there.’
- ‘The same person will tolerate ambiguity in one situation but not in another.’
- ‘In my opinion, since there is no ambiguity or uncertainty, the application of this rule does not arise.’
- ‘It is true that there is some ambiguity in the clauses in question, as submitted by Mr. Jones.’
- ‘This impact derives from its subtlety, ambiguity and non-literal nature.’
- ‘The result of giving the words their ordinary meaning is not absurd or unreasonable, nor is there ambiguity or obscurity.’
- ‘With Burtynsky the ambiguities are deeper, harder to disentangle.’
- ‘The most fundamental problem, she argues, hinges on ambiguities in Marx's definition of ideology itself.’
- ‘The potential for ambiguity aside, this was an offer that couldn't be refused.’
- ‘And even if they keep the world guessing, ambiguities are often put to work in dealing with sensitive matters.’
- ‘Nowhere was this ambiguity more apparent than concerning the question of sovereignty.’
- ‘Even if they do, I think it's going to miss all the ambiguities in something that might not necessarily conform to a radical agenda.’
ambivalence, equivocation
View synonyms