Ambiguity
/ˌæm.bɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/noun
The quality of having more than one possible meaning or interpretation.
Did you know?Ambiguity comes from Latin ambiguitas, built on ambigere, literally “to go around” or “to wander about,” so the word’s ancient core is the feeling of being pulled in two directions at once.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ambhi
“around, on both sides”
Latin
Latin
ambī
“around, on both sides”
Latin
Latin
ambīgere
“to wander about; to be in doubt, to dispute”
Latin
Latin
ambīguus
“wavering, doubtful, ambiguous”
Late Latin
Latin
ambiguitās
“uncertainty, double meaning”
14th Century
English
ambiguite
“uncertainty, doubt; an ambiguous expression”
Modern English
English
ambiguity
“the quality of being open to more than one interpretation”
Explore more surprising origins