ambiguity Definition
- 1the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness
- 2uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language
Using ambiguity: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ambiguity" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The ambiguity of the instructions led to confusion among the students.
Example
The statement was intentionally crafted with ambiguity to avoid controversy.
Example
The novel's ending is deliberately left with ambiguity, allowing readers to interpret it in different ways.
ambiguity Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for ambiguity
Antonyms for ambiguity
Phrases with ambiguity
the ability to tolerate and manage ambiguity and uncertainty in decision-making and problem-solving
Example
In today's fast-paced business environment, ambiguity tolerance is a valuable skill for leaders.
a situation where a word or phrase has more than one meaning, leading to confusion or misinterpretation
Example
The sentence 'I saw her duck' is an example of lexical ambiguity, as 'duck' can be interpreted as a verb or a noun.
a situation where the structure of a sentence allows for more than one interpretation, leading to confusion or misinterpretation
Example
The sentence 'I saw the man with the telescope' is an example of structural ambiguity, as it is unclear whether the man or the speaker has the telescope.
Origins of ambiguity
from Latin 'ambiguitas', from 'ambiguus' meaning 'uncertain'
Summary: ambiguity in Brief
The term 'ambiguity' [ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪti] refers to the quality of being open to more than one interpretation or the uncertainty of meaning in language. It can lead to confusion or misinterpretation, as in the case of lexical or structural ambiguity. The phrase 'ambiguity tolerance' denotes the ability to manage ambiguity and uncertainty in decision-making and problem-solving, which is a valuable skill in today's fast-paced business environment.
