unclear
//ʌnˈklɪə(ɹ)//
Forms
- Comparative
- unclearer
- Superlative
- unclearest
Definitions
1.Ambiguous; liable to more than one interpretation.
- The remark she made comparing her life with that of a fish was unclear.
2.Not clearly or explicitly defined.
3.Not easy to see or read; indecipherable or unreadable.
- From such a long distance away, the name on the signpost was unclear.
4.Not having a clear idea; uncertain.
- I'm still unclear about what she meant by that remark.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4810
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English unclere, equivalent to un- + clear.
Compare Saterland Frisian uunkloor (“unclear”), West Frisian ûnklear (“inoperative, broken”), Dutch onklaar (“out of order, defective, broken”), German unklar (“unclear”), Danish uklar (“unclear”), Swedish oklar (“unclear”).