First Known Use: 1548
Dictionary
vague
adjective \ˈvāg\
: not clear in meaning : stated in a way that is general and not specific
: not thinking or expressing your thoughts clearly or precisely
: not completely formed or developed
vagu·ervagu·est
Full Definition of VAGUE
1
a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms <vague accusations> b : not having a precise meaning <a vague term of abuse>
2
a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct <only a vague notion of what's needed>; also : slight <a vague hint of a thickening waistline> <hasn't the vaguest idea> b : not clearly felt or sensed : somewhat subconscious <a vague longing>
3
: not thinking or expressing one's thoughts clearly or precisely <vague about dates and places>
4
: lacking expression : vacant <vague eyes> <a vague stare>
5
: not sharply outlined : hazy <met by vague figures with shaded torchlights — Earle Birney>
— vague·ly adverb
— vague·ness noun
See vague defined for English-language learners
See vague defined for kids
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Examples of VAGUE
- When my three years of military service ended, I looked around for some way to get to spend time in rural Vietnam as a civilian. The driving force was still primarily intellectual curiosity, along with a desire to improve my language ability in a non-Western language and some vague idea of doing folkloristic or literary studies in the future. —Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, (1993) 1995
- There are vague memories in our souls of those misty centuries when the world was in its childhood. —Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet, 1887
- At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
- It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud, there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black. —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
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Origin of VAGUE
Middle French, from Latin vagus, literally, wandering
Related to VAGUE
- Synonyms
- fuzzy, indefinite, inexplicit, muzzy, unclear
Synonym Discussion of VAGUE
obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge <obscure poems>. dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion <muttered dark hints of revenge>. vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration <a vague sense of obligation>. enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality <enigmatic occult writings>. cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning <cryptic hints of hidden treasure>. ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation <an ambiguous directive>. equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading <moral precepts with equivocal phrasing>.
VAGUER Defined for Kids
vague
adjective \ˈvāg\
vagu·ervagu·est
Definition of VAGUE for Kids
1
: not clearly expressed <a vague answer>
2
: not clearly understood or sensed <They knew in a vague way what they wanted.>
3
: not clearly outlined <At first Rosalind could see only vague shapes … — Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks>
— vague·ly adverb
— vague·ness noun
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