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ambiguity

/æmbɪˈɡjuːɪti/
Meanings
  • Noun

    Lack of clarity or precision; uncertainty.

    - "The novel had an ambiguity of meaning that left readers puzzled."
    - "The lawyer's ambiguous statement confused the jury."
  • Noun

    A state of being capable of being both true and false; equivocal.

    - "The ambiguity of the witness's testimony made it difficult to determine the truth."
    - "The politician's ambiguous statement on the issue left voters uncertain."
Pronunciation
  1. /æmbɪˈɡjuːɪti/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50048963"
Antonyms

unambiguity
Synonyms

ambiguousness , imprecision , polysemy , weasel word
Rhymes
Words rhyming with ambiguity
biguity , pigility , sigility
Homonyms
Words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins

  1. Ambiguity (Spanish) : Imprecision, uncertainty

  2. Ambiguity (French) : Doubt, uncertainty

Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

  1. ambigram

  2. ambigrade

  3. ambidextrous

Variants
List of all variants of ambiguity that leads to same result
ambiguities , ambiguity , moral ambiguity
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

ambiguous, ambigually, ambiguously

Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Latin ambiguus, meaning 'doubtful,' 'uncertain,' or 'unclear'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. Did you know that the word 'ambiguity' appears in the Bible in the King James Version, specifically in the book of Proverbs (18:21)?

  2. In mathematics, ambiguity can refer to a function that has multiple possible values for a given input.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Equivocation: The use of ambiguous language to deceive or mislead.

  2. Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself but may still be true, often creating ambiguity.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. 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.,{it}Cosmopolitan{/it},January 2008

  2. 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,{it}Prospect{/it},September 2003

  3. 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,{it}On the Verge of War{/it},1999

  4. 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,{it}A Governess In the Age of Jane Austen{/it},1998
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Ambiguity has been a common theme in literature and art, often used to create suspense, intrigue, or to challenge the reader's perception. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' the narrator's ambiguous motives and unreliable narration keep the reader guessing.

How to Memorize "ambiguity"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a foggy landscape, where the outlines of objects are unclear and uncertain. This is the feeling of ambiguity.
    - Visualize a coin that can be heads or tails depending on how you look at it. This is the essence of ambiguity.

  2. associate

    - Associate ambiguity with uncertainty, doubt, and equivocation. Remember that ambiguous statements or situations can be both true and false.
    - Associate ambiguity with a puzzle or a riddle, something that challenges your understanding and forces you to think carefully.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the acronym AMBIGUITY to remember the meaning: Ambiguity = Meaning not clear, Brings uncertainty, Imprecise, Gray areas, Unclear, and True or false.

Memorize "ambiguity" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize ambiguity is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

  1. Highlighting:

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  2. Periodic Reminders:

    Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.

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