vague

adjective

ˈvāg 

vaguer; vaguest

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

vagueness noun

Synonyms

• fuzzy
• indefinite
• inexplicit
• muzzy
• unclear

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of vague in a Sentence

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

The instructions she left were vague and difficult to follow.

He gave only a vague answer.

The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced.

She has been vague about her plans for college.

We had only a vague idea of where we were.

I think I have a vague understanding of how it works.

He longed in some vague way for something different.

She felt a vague sense of uneasiness when she was around him.

I had the vague impression that they were withholding information.

We could just barely make out the vague outline of a plane in the sky.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are vague references to Wyler’s work in Kabul and Beirut and her concerns for Afghan women after the U.S. withdrew from the country. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

Donald Trump’s housing proposals are vague and sometimes nonsensical. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 11 Nov. 2024

The controversial case involves billions of dollars for hospitals, pits not-for-profit hospitals against rural and for-profit facilities, and tests the broader legal theory of whether federal agencies can take matters into their own hands when laws are vague. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

The setup instructions were vague and the app was difficult to navigate. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, going back to Old French, "wandering, vagabond," borrowed from Latin vagus "moving freely, wandering," perhaps akin to Old High German wankōn "to totter, stagger," winkan "to waver, stagger, wink," Old English wincian "to close the eyes" — more at wink entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vague

• nouvelle vague

Kids Definition

vague

adjective

ˈvāg 

vaguer; vaguest

1

: not clearly expressed

a vague answer

2

: not clearly understood or sensed

only a vague idea of where we were

3

: not clearly outlined : indistinct, shadowy

vague figures in the mist

vaguely adverb

vagueness noun

Legal Definition

vague

adjective

ˈvāg 

: characterized by such a lack of precision that a person of ordinary intelligence would have to guess if particular conduct is being proscribed : characterized by a failure to describe forbidden conduct in terms sufficient to provide fair warning

an unconstitutionally vague law

see also void-for-vagueness doctrine compare overbroad

vaguely adverb

vagueness noun