nebulous

adjective

neb·​u·​lous ˈne-byə-ləs 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a nebula : nebular

2

: indistinct, vague

… this nebulous thing called jazz.

—Josef Woodard

… the nebulous region between mere suspicion and probable cause

—W. R. LaFave & J. H. Israel

The plan is too nebulous.

nebulously adverb

nebulousness noun

Did you know?

Nebulous may sound otherworldly—after all, it’s related to nebula, which refers to an interstellar cloud of gas or dust—but its mysteriousness is rooted in more earthly unknowns. Both words ultimately come from Latin nebula, meaning “mist, cloud,” and as far back as the 14th century nebulous could mean simply “cloudy” or “foggy.” Nebulous has since the late 17th century been the adjective correlating to nebula (as in “nebulous gas”), but the word is more familiar in its figurative use, where it describes things that are indistinct or vague, as when Teju Cole wrote of an avant-garde photographer who viewed photography as existing “neither in the camera nor in the printed photograph, but in a more nebulous zone.”

Synonyms

• ambiguous
• cryptic
• obscure
• dark
• vague
• mysterious

Examples of nebulous in a Sentence

These philosophical concepts can be nebulous.

made nebulous references to some major changes the future may hold

Recent Examples on the Web

The public interest standard, a rather nebulous term, has been used by FCC officials in the past to warn broadcasters of their obligations, often using their bully pulpit to exert pressure on the industry. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) caught the two jets slamming into the interstellar medium around them, forming the nebulous structure known as Sharpless 2-284, or Sh2-284 for short. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Which method is better depends on whether your business has more nebulous or strict departments. —John Brandon, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025

Indeed, authenticity is a nebulous, shape-shifting concept. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin nebulosus misty, from nebula

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

nebulous

adjective

neb·​u·​lous ˈneb-yə-ləs 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a nebula

2

: not clear or sharp : vague

nebulously adverb

nebulousness noun