🇬🇧🇨🇳 ambiguity - 歧义 : English Lesson

Meaning of "ambiguity" ("歧义"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Ambiguity is when words or a situation are not clear, and people can understand them in different ways. For example, if a teacher says, “You can eat after the test,” it could mean you eat lunch after the whole test is done, or it could mean you may snack during the test when you finish. Because it isn’t clear which meaning is correct, there is ambiguity. Ambiguity can make people confused, but it can also be used in jokes and riddles, where double meanings are on purpose.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Because of ambiguity in "try your best," I decided my best was a solid three minutes of homework and a long snack break.

I blamed ambiguity when Grandma told me to "dust the cake" and I covered it in actual house dust.

Mom said, "Be in bed by eight," and thanks to ambiguity, I sat on the bed until midnight reading comics.

The royal wizard’s prophecy had so much ambiguity that the king prepared for a dragon, a thunderstorm, and a surprise math test.

Ambiguity is so powerful that whole jokes, riddles, and tongue-twisters are built from it—like asking, "If nothing is impossible, is it possible for something to be impossible?"

The note's ambiguity made her heart jump; the ambiguity of who, the ambiguity of when, the ambiguity swallowed clear plans. She held the paper, naming ambiguity out loud like a spell. Then the writer arrived smiling, solving the ambiguity with a picnic blanket. They laughed, and the word lost its bite.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.