Indefiniteness: meaning, definitions and examples

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indefiniteness

[ˌɪnˈdɛfɪnɪtnəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

lack of certainty

The state of being indefinite or not clearly defined; lack of certainty or fixedness.

Synonyms

ambiguity, uncertainty, vagueness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
indefiniteness	Used to describe something that lacks clear boundaries or precise definition, often in contexts where details are not fully determined or described. The indefiniteness of the plans made it difficult to prepare There was a sense of indefiniteness in the project timeline
uncertainty	Describes a state of being unsure or having doubts about something, often used in contexts involving future events, decisions, or information. There is a lot of uncertainty about the outcome of the election The uncertainty of the weather affected our travel plans
ambiguity	Refers to situations where something can be interpreted in more than one way, often leading to confusion or misunderstanding. Commonly used in legal, literary, or everyday language contexts. The contract's ambiguity caused a dispute between the parties The poem's ambiguity allowed for multiple interpretations
vagueness	Typically used to describe a lack of clarity or precision in communication or detail, often implying that something is not well-defined or specific. The vagueness of his instructions led to confusion among the staff Her vague answers did not give us much confidence

Examples of usage

The indefiniteness of his answer left us all confused.
She was frustrated by the indefiniteness of the instructions.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

grammar

The quality of being indefinite, such as an indefinite article or pronoun.

Synonyms

indeterminacy, unspecificity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
indefiniteness	Indicates a lack of clarity or exactness in situations where boundaries or specifics are uncertain. The indefiniteness of the project timeline caused confusion among the team There was an indefiniteness in his answer that made it difficult to understand his position
indeterminacy	Used in more technical or scientific contexts to indicate an inability to determine exact value or outcome. Quantum mechanics often deals with the indeterminacy of particles The indeterminacy in weather predictions makes it hard to plan ahead
unspecificity	Refers to a lack of detailed information or specificity, often used in informal contexts. The unspecificity of the instructions frustrated the team Her unspecificity about the details made it hard to proceed with the plan

Word

Description / Examples

indefiniteness

Indicates a lack of clarity or exactness in situations where boundaries or specifics are uncertain.

The indefiniteness of the project timeline caused confusion among the team
There was an indefiniteness in his answer that made it difficult to understand his position

indeterminacy

Used in more technical or scientific contexts to indicate an inability to determine exact value or outcome.

Quantum mechanics often deals with the indeterminacy of particles
The indeterminacy in weather predictions makes it hard to plan ahead

unspecificity

Refers to a lack of detailed information or specificity, often used in informal contexts.

The unspecificity of the instructions frustrated the team
Her unspecificity about the details made it hard to proceed with the plan

Examples of usage

The use of 'a' and 'an' demonstrates indefiniteness in English.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'indefinitus', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'definitus' means 'definite' or 'limited'.
It entered the English language in the early 1800s as a combination of the prefix 'in-' and the root 'definite'.

Philosophy

In philosophy, indefiniteness raises questions about concepts and categorizations, challenging how we define things in metaphysics.
The notion is important in discussions of existential uncertainty and ambiguity in human experience and knowledge.

Mathematics

In mathematics, an indefinite integral represents a family of functions rather than a specific function, highlighting the idea of ambiguity.
Indefiniteness also appears in topology, where it can refer to spaces that lack clear boundaries or definitions.

Law

In legal terms, indefiniteness may refer to contracts that lack clarity, which can render them unenforceable because of vagueness.
Courts often scrutinize contracts for indefiniteness to ensure all parties understand their rights and obligations.

Psychology

In psychology, an individual may experience anxiety due to the indefiniteness of life events, leading to a desire for more certainty.
The concept can also relate to decision-making, where individuals may struggle when faced with indefinite outcomes.

Translations

Translations of the word "indefiniteness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indefinição

🇮🇳 अनिश्चितता

🇩🇪 Unbestimmtheit

🇮🇩 ketidakpastian

🇺🇦 невизначеність

🇵🇱 nieokreśloność

🇯🇵 不確定性

🇫🇷 indétermination

🇪🇸 indefinición

🇹🇷 belirsizlik

🇰🇷 불확정성

🇸🇦 عدم التحديد

🇨🇿 neurčitost

🇸🇰 neurčitosť

🇨🇳 不确定性

🇸🇮 neopredeljenost

🇮🇸 óákveðni

🇰🇿 анықталмағандық

🇬🇪 გაურკვევლობა

🇦🇿 qeyri-müəyyənlik

🇲🇽 indefinición