How Do You Spell AMBIGUOUS?

Pronunciation: [ambˈɪɡjuːəs] (IPA)

One of the trickiest words to spell, "ambiguous" has the potential to confuse even the most astute linguist. With its two "g" sounds and the tricky "u" in the middle, it's easy to get it wrong. The correct way to spell it is /æmˈbɪɡjʊəs/ (am-BIG-yoo-uss). The word means having more than one possible interpretation or meaning and is often used to describe language, art, and situations where clarity is lacking. To avoid ambiguity, it's important to take the time to spell words correctly.

AMBIGUOUS Meaning and Definition

  1. Ambiguous is an adjective that describes something that is unclear, uncertain, or open to multiple interpretations. It refers to situations, statements, or ideas that lack clarity or definitiveness, making them difficult to fully understand or interpret. When something is ambiguous, it often confuses or leaves room for different understandings, making it hard to determine the intended meaning.

    This term is commonly used to describe language, sentences, or phrases that have more than one possible meaning or can be interpreted in different ways. It may also refer to situations where the outcome or implications are not clear-cut. Ambiguity can arise due to vagueness, double meanings, figurative language, or lack of context. For example, an ambiguous statement could lead to misunderstandings if its intended meaning is not clear, as it can be interpreted differently by different individuals.

    The concept of ambiguity is widely present in literature, communication, and everyday life. Writers may intentionally use ambiguous language as a stylistic device to encourage readers to actively engage with the text and form their own interpretations. In everyday conversations, ambiguity can lead to confusion or miscommunication if individuals do not clarify their intended meaning.

    In summary, being ambiguous means lacking clarity or having multiple possible interpretations. It refers to concepts, statements, or situations that create uncertainty or confusion about their intended meaning or outcome.

  2. Doubtful; having more meanings than one.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for AMBIGUOUS *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for AMBIGUOUS

Etymology of AMBIGUOUS

The word "ambiguous" is derived from the Latin term "ambiguus", which means "having double meaning" or "uncertain". It is a combination of two Latin words: "ambi", meaning "both" or "around", and "agere", meaning "to drive" or "to lead". The original sense of "ambiguus" referred to something that could be interpreted in more than one way or led to multiple conclusions.

Similar spelling words for AMBIGUOUS

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