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Ambiguous vs Unknown - What's the difference?

ambiguous | unknown |

As adjectives the difference between ambiguous and unknown

is that ambiguous is open to multiple interpretations while unknown is not known; unidentified; not well known.

As a noun unknown is

a variable (usually x, y or z) whose value is to be found.

ambiguous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Open to multiple interpretations.
    • The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.
  • Vague and unclear.
    • He gave an ambiguous answer.
  • (obsolete, of persons) Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.
  • * 1662 (Thomas Salusbury)
    • And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous , and Simplicius is resolute....

    Synonyms

    * equivocal

    Antonyms

    * unambiguous * precise

    Related terms

    * ambiguity * ambiguate * ambiguation * disambiguation

    See also

    * contradictory * mistakable * confusing

    External links

    * *

    References

    *

    unknown

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Not known; unidentified; not well known.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=The Celebrity, by arts unknown , induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.}}

    Synonyms

    * anonymous * unfamiliar * uncharted * undiscovered * unexplored * unidentified * unnamed * unrecognized * unrevealed * unascertained * obscure * unsung

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (algebra) A variable (usually x'', ''y'' or ''z ) whose value is to be found.
  • Any fact or place about which nothing is known (as in the phrase "into the unknown").
  • A person of no identity; a nonentity
  • * 1965 , (Bob Dylan), (Like a Rolling Stone)
    • How does it feel
    To be on your own
    With no direction home
    Like a complete unknown
    Like a rolling stone?