Vague Adjective - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of vague adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

vague adjective   /veɪɡ/  /veɪɡ/(comparative vaguer, superlative vaguest) jump to other results

1.  not clear in a person’s mind
   • to have a vague impression/memory/recollection of something
   • They had only a vague idea where the place was.
   Extra Examples
   • I am vague about what happened during the rest of the night.
   • I have a vague recollection of meeting him when I was a child.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
   • be
   • look
   • sound
   • …
   adverb
   • extremely
   • fairly
   • very
   • …
   preposition
   • about
   • as to
   • in
   • …
   See full entry

   Definitions on the go

   Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

   
2.  vague (about something) not having or giving enough information or details about something
   • She's a little vague about her plans for next year.
   • The politicians made vague promises about tax cuts.
   • He was accused of being deliberately vague.
   • We had only a vague description of the attacker.
   • He outlined the policy in vague terms.
   Extra Examples
   • Her directions were hopelessly vague.
   • It was a vague enough concept for the liberals to unite around.
   • It was a vague enough suggestion for everyone to be happy with it.
   • Since the officers knew little themselves their reassurances were necessarily vague.
   • The identity of the city in the novel is deliberately left vague.
   • The law is notoriously vague on this point.
   • The statement was vague in its wording.
   • You're being deliberately vague.
   • an inherently vague and subjective concept
   • I was suitably vague as to exactly how I had acquired the money.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
   • be
   • look
   • sound
   • …
   adverb
   • extremely
   • fairly
   • very
   • …
   preposition
   • about
   • as to
   • in
   • …
   See full entry
3. (of a person’s behaviour) suggesting a lack of clear thought or attention synonym absent-minded
   • His vague manner concealed a brilliant mind.
   • She seems to be getting rather vague as she grows older.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
   • be
   • look
   • sound
   • …
   adverb
   • extremely
   • fairly
   • very
   • …
   preposition
   • about
   • as to
   • in
   • …
   See full entry
4. not having a clear shape synonym indistinct
   • In the darkness they could see the vague outline of a church.
   More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters
   • gnarled
   • gnash
   • gnat
   • gnaw
   • gnome
   • haute cuisine
   • heir
   • herb
   • honour
   • hors d’oeuvre
   • hour
   • knack
   • knee
   • kneel
   • knife
   • knight
   • knit
   • knob
   • knock
   • knot
   • know
   • knuckle
   • psalm
   • psephology
   • psychic
   • ptarmigan
   • pterodactyl
   • psychology
   • wrangle
   • wrap
   • wreath
   • wreck
   • wrench
   • wrestle
   • wriggle
   • wring
   • write
   • wrong
   • bomb
   • climb
   • crumb
   • doubt
   • lamb
   • limb
   • ascent
   • fascinate
   • muscle
   • scene
   • scissors
   • height
   • right
   • sleigh
   • weight
   • align
   • campaign
   • design
   • foreign
   • malign
   • reign
   • unfeigned
   • balmy
   • calm
   • calf
   • half
   • yolk
   • autumn
   • column
   • condemn
   • damn
   • hymn
   • solemn
   • bristle
   • fasten
   • listen
   • mortgage
   • soften
   • thistle
   • wrestle
   • biscuit
   • build
   • circuit
   • disguise
   • guilty
   • league
   • rogue
   • vague
   • yacht
   • answer
   • sword
   • two
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin vagus ‘wandering, uncertain’.

See vague in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee vague in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation: vague

Nearby words

• vagrant noun
• vagrant adjective
• vague adjective
• vaguely adverb
• vagueness noun

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